Penguins Practice Updates: 12.03.21
Mike Sullivan switched up the lines on Friday in Vancouver in hopes of sparking some offense
By
Tyler Gallo / Pittsburgh Penguins
- Lines change up
Head coach Mike Sullivan switched up the lines for the first time in a while, and the top trio was the only one unaffected.
Danton Heinen moved up next to Jason Zucker and Jeff Carter, the spot previously occupied by Kasperi Kapanen. Kapanen then skated on Teddy Blueger's right, while Brock McGinn moved to the left. And the recently recalled Drew O'Connor centered the fourth line, flanked by Zach Aston-Reese and Dominik Simon.
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Aston-Reese-O'Connor-Simon
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Friedman and Ruhwedel rotated with Matheson.
Sullivan is hoping these changes might result in some sparks from a production perspective, as the Penguins have scored just six goals in their past four games and gone 1-2-1 over that span.
"We're just trying to find some balance amongst the group of forwards we have so we can generate some more offense throughout the lineup," Sullivan said. "The last little while, we haven't scored nearly as many goals, and more so than that, some of the lines have been limited in their opportunities. That's the more concerning thing from a coaching standpoint."
Brian Boyle, who hadn't skated with the team since Monday as he is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, returned to practice this afternoon. Evgeni Malkin (knee surgery) skated in a no-contact fashion for the fourth time in a row.
- O'Connor hoping to slot back in
O'Connor, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Sunday, centered the fourth line and is hoping to get in his first game with Pittsburgh since Nov. 13 tomorrow night.
"We're looking for guys that can help us win games, and I think the way Drew can do that is using his size on the forecheck," Sullivan said. "He can take defensemen wide on the rush and he has a bit of a scoring touch. When he shoots the puck, he's helping us generate offense, if not scoring himself."
But regardless of when O'Connor sees NHL action again, Sullivan said the most important thing is for him to continue growing his game.
"I think he's getting so much experience, whether it's here or in Wilkes-Barre," Sullivan said."
O'Connor earned a spot with Pittsburgh out of training camp after an extremely impressive performance following a summer of hard work. He ended up collecting three goals and five points in 12 games before the Penguins sent him to WBS.
"He played really well for us when he was here, and we told him that when that decision was made," Sullivan said. "Part of the decisions that are made around here, with respect to Drew, are about the business of the game, and we're really encouraged with the progress and development that he's made. We think he's played really well for us here in Pittsburgh."
That's helped O'Connor stay even-keeled regardless of where he's at.
"For me, obviously I want to be here and playing here, but I think having a positive outlook about going down there and playing a bit more and making the most of certain situations, that was my outlook," O'Connor said on Tuesday. "I just tried to make the most of my time there."
O'Connor picked up three goals and five points in five games with WBS, and got a chance to get more reps down the middle along with additional shorthanded time.
"Penalty kill was a big thing. It's something I've done a lot in the past in college," he said. "That's something I'd like to contribute here to the team, so that's something I worked on there. Playing center, working on faceoffs is another aspect. Just finding ways to play in different situations in the lineup that'll help me down the road."
- Jarry and Heinen return home
Pittsburgh's trip to Vancouver is a homecoming for two Penguins players, as Tristan Jarry and Danton Heinen both grew up around an hour out from Vancouver, with Jarry being from Surrey and Heinen being from Langley.
Jarry has never had the chance to play the Canucks in Vancouver as an NHL player, and potentially getting that opportunity to start against his hometown team on Saturday would be a childhood dream realized.
"It would be pretty cool," Jarry said. "It's one of the teams I grew up watching. I've seen a lot of them. I think the generations you see the players come through and just to watch all the different players to come through this organization, I think it would be cool to play in my home city."
And who knows - there may be a kid sitting nearby who is inspired by Jarry the same way he was inspired by the Canucks netminders who were in goal when he would go to games at Rogers Arena.
"Definitely [Markus] Naslund and [Dan] Cloutier, the goalies were always ones that I always watched," Jarry said. "We had season tickets three rows up right behind the goalies, I got to watch the goalie very closely. That was something I always ended up seeing and watched during the games."
Meanwhile, Heinen has had the chance to play the Canucks in Vancouver a few times, and discussed the best part of coming back home.
"I think just seeing friends and family," Heinen said. "I know I've been back a couple times, but I love coming back here, I love where I'm from, seeing friends and family and seeing all the support."
