Kessel extends streak after missing practice Sunday
In case there was any doubt after he limped toward the locker room Saturday then sat out practice Sunday, Phil Kessel was in the lineup Monday night against the NewJersey Devils.
Kessel, who has one of the longest streaks of consecutive games played in NHL history, made a brief cameo at the morning skate Monday at PPG Paints Arena, ducking off the ice before the rest of the participants then vacating the locker room before reporters arrived.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Kessel, who came into the game with 16 points in 12 games, would be available to play against the Devils, and he extended his streak to 705 consecutive games.
Kessel hasn’t missed a game since the 2009-10 season, when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I think it’s an indication of his toughness, his willingness to play injured, his compete level, all of those things,” Sullivan said. “I’m sure it’s important to him. I haven’t had a conversation with him about it. But I’m sure if you asked him, it’s something that he prides himself in.”
There was a tiny bit of intrigue, though, after Kessel quickly exited the morning skate.
In a 5-0 loss Saturday to the Maple Leafs, Kessel briefly left the bench but returned to finish the game, playing 24 shifts for a total of 19:30 of ice time. He then sat out Sunday. Afterward, Sullivan described it as a “maintenance” day.
Patric Hornqvist took Kessel’s spot on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Carl Hagelin Sunday in practice. It was unclear if that was merely the makeup with Kessel getting the day off or if Sullivan had plans to shake up that line, which has stuck together all season.
Riikola returns to ice
Rookie defenseman Juuso Riikola, who did not play in four of the five previous games, was in the lineup against the Devils and surprisingly was paired with Brian Dumoulin to start the game as Sullivan split up Dumoulin and Kris Letang for the first time this season. Letang skated with Jack Johnson. Sullivan kept Olli Maatta and Jamie Oleksiak together.
“Of course, I’m very excited to be back in the lineup,” Riikola said. “Yeah, it’s not so easy to be out of the lineup and just watch those games. I’m definitely happy to be in.”
Riikola believes — and perhaps the coaching staff does, too — that he needs to play with more focus to remain in the lineup, and that includes making quicker decisions with the puck. On more spacious rinks overseas, play can be a little more deliberate.
The 24-year-old knew when he signed with the Penguins after six years in the SM-liiga, the top pro league in his native Finland, that he might not be an everyday player right away.
“I’ve been in the same kind of situation,” he said. “It’s a bit different back home in Finland but similar situation. I kind of know what it takes and that you need to be patient and keep working hard to get your chance. And when you get your chance, you need to be ready to play.
“It’s not like you need to be some miracle-maker. Just be ready and play hard.”
Bottom-six struggles
Much is being made about the lack of production from the third and fourth lines, especially with the Penguins going without a 5-on-5 goal the past two games. Sullivan said he is not always looking for goals from role players. First and foremost, he feels they need to bring speed and energy, which can help the whole team get rolling.
Sullivan then rattled off a list of other ways bottom-six players can make an impact.
“They have to be sound defensively. They’ve got to help us with momentum. They can bring a physical dimension to the game,” Sullivan said. “They can help us kill penalties. ... Sometimes, depending on how we formulate our lines, [we] can have a line that plays somewhat of a checking role that we can utilize in defensive zone starts or things of that nature.”
The Penguins coach added: “So, there’s lot of ways I think players help us win. Sometimes it’s on the scoresheet by chipping in offensively, but there’s lot of other ways.”
Around the boards
Derick Brassard did not resume skating Monday, which Sullivan says is “the next step” in the forward’s recovery from a lower-body injury that will keep him out for a fifth game in a row. “We’re taking each day as it comes,” Sullivan said. “There is a cautious approach we’re taking with him obviously.” … Against the Devils, the Penguins were tasked with slowing down speedy winger Taylor Hall, the reigning league MVP who had three goals and four assists in four games against them a season ago. … Goaltender Matt Murray, who has started each game in the team’s three-game losing streak, started against Hall andthe Devils.