Crosby misses practice, no update given

Sidney Crosby was absent from practice Wednesday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, one day after he was placed on the NHL’s COVID protocol list.

Assistant coach Todd Reirden, likewise, was not on the ice, as he too remains in the protocol. The captain and assistant coach both missed Tuesday’s 5-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena.

On Wednesday, coach Mike Sullivan had no updates, deferring to the league in accordance with the NHL’s regulations. To this point, there is no public timeline for either individual’s return.

Sullivan said that while Crosby has been away from the club physically, he has been staying in contact with teammates virtually.

“He’s talked to players on the phone,” Sullivan said. “I’ve had a couple conversations with him myself. … A lot of this stuff we’re doing on a virtual basis, anyway. He has the capacity to be plugged into all of the video sessions we’re sending to players.”

When Crosby entered the protocol, Sullivan issued a reminder that it does not necessarily mean he has tested positive for the virus. A high-risk close contact, an initial positive test that remains unconfirmed or travel are other reasons players could be in the protocol. The coach made similar statements when John Marino entered the protocol and, sure enough, the secondyear defenseman missed just one day of practice.

In Crosby’s absence, the Penguins have reunited one of the NHL’s most-potent lines from last season. Evgeni Malkin is centering the top line, skating between Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust.

In 21 games last season, that trio racked up 31 goals for and just 11 against at all strengths, while controlling 71% of the expected goals and 68% of the high- danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick.

At even strength, they were still almost as imposing. They tallied 22 goals for and just 10 against, while controlling 65% of the expected goals and 62% of the high-danger chances.

“They were a dominant line for us,” Sullivan said. “They all had really good years. I thought Geno had a great year last year on both sides of the puck. [Rust] might have had his best year, certainly offensively for us. He’s always been a solid defensive player, but his offensive game really grew for us. And Jake did what he always does. He scores goals.”

Along with goalie Tristan Jarry’s standout start to the 2019-20 season, that line was one of the main reasons the Penguins posted the NHL’s best record without the game’s best player in 2019-20.

Depending how long Crosby is out, the new-look Malkin line’s ability to recreate the same chemistry will go a long way toward determining how the next couple of games unfold.

“They’ve just got to play the game the right way,” Sullivan said. “That’s our expectation of those guys. When we play the game the right way, we feel very confident they’re going to find the back of the net offensively and they’re going to be hard to play against defensively.”

Almost a full house

While the captain was missing, a number of injured Penguins returned to practice in a full capacity on Wednesday.

Defensemen Brian Dumoulin, along with forwards Evan Rodrigues and Mark Jankowski all rejoined practice for the first time since their respective injuries. Dumoulin and Rodrigues remain on long-term injured reserve, while Jankowski is considered day to day.

Jankowski centered the fourth line, a strong indication he’ll be back in the lineup Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dumoulin rotated in with the third-pairing defensemen instead of jumping in with his regular partner, Kris Letang. Rodrigues did not take part in drills that revealed the lines. However, he was part of the second power play.

It remains unclear if Dumoulin or Rodrigues will return in time for Thursday’s game.

Juuso Riikola has been skating with the team for some time now. While he remains on long-term injured reserve, he also was a full participant again.

Roster moves

The Penguins placed Jason Zucker on long-term injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 23. Zucker was initially injured when his skate collided with a Capitals’ defenseman. He had to be helped off the ice and was sent back to Pittsburgh for further evaluation.

Also on Wednesday, the Penguins reassigned forwards Anthony Angello, Josh Currie and Drew O’Connor to the taxi squad. That leaves the Penguins with 12 forwards from Wednesday’s practice, including Rodrigues.

In other roster news, forward Frederick Gaudreau has been re- assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.