It’s playoff time, but it’s Kessel’s time, too Power play thrives

bellwether for his overall play.

“I think Phil’s game is really predicated upon him skating and being active with his anticipation skills, getting to areas where he demands the puck,” Sullivan said. “On nights I think when Phil is at his very best, he has the puck a fair amount.”

Sometimes, that concept can lead to some of those difficult player-coach conversations.

“There are nights when he’ll say to me, ‘Jeez, I just didn’t get the puck tonight,’ ” Sullivan said. “And we always turn it around on him and place the burden of responsibility on him because he’s so talented and he’s an elite player.”

In a game full of bright spots for the Penguins, the power play was no exception.

The unit generated eight shots on goal on three manadvantage attempts and created Kessel’s game-winning goal early in the second period.

After the game, Columbus coach John Tortorella lamented the amount of seam passes the Penguins were able to make when they were up a man.

“I think we’ve been moving the puck really well,” winger Patric Hornqvist said. “Obviously, it helps to get [Evgeni Malkin] back there. He can hold onto it, make those seam plays.”

Sullivan said the key to the unit, beyond the immense amount of raw talent on the ice, is the constant movement it creates when things are flowing.

“Player movement and puck movement,” Sullivan said. “I think those guys, they’re instinctive. I think what makes our power play difficult to defend is it’s an instinctive group, and we try to give them lots of latitude to make plays and take what they see.

“We do have a framework, but it’s not so rigid that we’re predictable. It allows for the players that we have to be instinctive.”

Rust, Daley rest

Winger Bryan Rust and defenseman Trevor Daley did not participate Thursday in the practice. Sullivan said they were both taking maintenance days.

Rust left Game 1 in the second period with an apparent injury, but returned to play in the third.

Injured players Chad Ruhwedel, Chris Kunitz and Carl Hagelin were the other players absent from practice.

Saad’s benching

Brandon Saad of PineRichland High School was back alongside Alexander Wennberg and Nick Foligno for the Blue Jackets practice Thursday after being benched for much of the third period in Game 1.

Saad logged only 1:45 of ice time then, even though Columbus was trying to rally from a 3-0 deficit.

Tortorella said Thursday he sat Saad because “I just thought other guys were going,” and Saad didn’t seem to be particularly taken aback by the move.

“It’s his job to put the team out there that he thinks is going to get the job done,” Saad said. “That’s out of my control. You just have to control what you can.”

Hits keep coming

The Blue Jackets lost the series opener, but accomplished at least one thing — they hit the Penguins hard and often.

“I thought the physical part was there, no doubt,” forward Boone Jenner said. “We banged them.”

Columbus was credited with a 49-35 edge in hits and hopes that punishing the Penguins physically will have an impact as the series moves along.

“We’re going to need to continue to bang these guys, be physical,” center Brandon Dubinsky said. “Try to do our best to wear them down.”

Columbus seek offense

The Blue Jackets practice Thursday emphasized offense, getting bodies to the net and taking shots designed to create rebounds.

“Give Pittsburgh credit,” Tortorella said. “I thought they defended well in front of their goalie.

“They blocked a lot of shots. We have to do a better job of trying to get [to the net], and trying to get shots there.”

The Penguins blocked 22 shots, but Columbus anticipated that kind of performance.

“Throughout the whole season, that’s what they’ve always done,” right winger Cam Atkinson said. “We expect it.

“They’re just obviously very good at it.”