Dress rehearsal shows team in regular-season form already

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Penguins treated the preseason game Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres like a dress rehearsal. Looks like the show is ready to go.

The Penguins overwhelmed the Sabres — who used a diluted lineup — in a 5-1 win at PPG Paints Arena, their final home tune-up before the start of the regular season.

Some highlights included a pair of terrific Phil Kessel goals in the first period. His line with Carl Hagelin and Evgeni Malkin was really, really good.

Kris Letang scored, giving the Penguins six goals in five preseason games from their defensemen.

The third line of Dominik Simon, Derick Brassard and Bryan Rust continued to click, and Brassard added a power-play goal. He has looked drastically different all preseason. Rust was especially noticeable and nearly scored a goal. Instead, Matt Cullen came in to nudge the puck the rest of the way across the goal line.

Matt Murray stopped 21 of 22 shots in what likely was his final preseason action.

The Penguins (2-2-1) will wrap up the preseason Friday night in Columbus. The home opener is next Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

‘We’re a good line’

Hagelin was back with Malkin and Kessel after Zach Aston-Reese played the left sice for the two superstars since the onset of training camp.

Hagelin, with his speed and willingness to use it on the back check, has been a good fit with those two scorers in the past and played on that line Wednesday against the Sabres.

“It’s a good feeling. When we play the way we need to play with the puck-possession game, we’re a good line,” Hagelin said.

“I think we’re good at feeding off of each other and creating opportunities offensively. So, we’ve just got to make sure we’re all in [on both ends].”

Schultz doesn’t play

Justin Schultz is day-today with a “nagging upperbody injury,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday morning. Schultz did not suit up for the home preseason game Wednesday night against Buffalo.

“I don’t envision it being anything serious,” Sullivan said after the morning skate at PPG Paints Arena.

Schultz practiced Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, but Schultz and fellow defenseman Zach Trotman alternated shifts next to Jamie Oleksiak throughout the session. The Penguins later in the day announced that Schultz would not suit up.

With Schultz out, Juuso Riikola got bumped up into the top six defensemen and was paired with Oleksiak. He has also gotten time on the second power-play the past two days. The 24-yearold Finn, whom the Penguins imported this offseason, has scored two goals in preseason play and also has impressed coaches and teammates during practices.

“I think Juuso’s been good. We’re trying to familiarize ourselves with his game and that’s one of the reasons why he’s playing as much as he is,” Sullivan said.”We’ve all been impressed with a puck-moving ability, his ability to process the game [quickly] … and he’s got good mobility.

“He has shown good decision-making with and without the puck at this point.”

Guentzel eyes consistency

Jake Guentzel scored 22 goals last regular season, which is pretty good for a 23year-old playing his first full NHL season. But there were lulls — well, at least until the playoffs started.

“There were spurts at times where I know I needed to be better,” Guentzel said.

Guentzel dedicated himself in the offseason to getting stronger both physically and mentally in the hopes that he can be a more consistent player throughout the 82-game grind.

Guentzel, who will turn 24 Oct. 6, has picked up where he left off with Crosby when, along with Patric Hornqvist, they formed the team’s hottest line during the playoffs.

And that’s a good thing, because he doesn’t plan on giving up his spot on Crosby’s left wing anytime soon.

“I mean, whenever you get a chance to play with him, I think that’s where you want to be,” he said.

“That’s my biggest thing, just to try play my game and hopefully [stay there].”

Brassard ‘good now’

Brassard said he’s no longer dealing with anything related to the chest/lung infection that forced him to miss the first week of training camp.

“It’s good,” Brassard said. “Once you’re done with your meds, you come back with the same energy level that you had before.

“Everything is good now.”