Key injured players slowly make progress
The Penguins entered Game 6 against the New York Rangers without their captain Sidney Crosby, their No. 1 netminder Tristan Jarry, toppairing defenseman Brian Dumoulin and key deadline deal addition Rickard Rakell.
Crosby, who took an elbow tothe head at Madison Square Garden in Game 5, skated individually with skills coach Ty Hennes ahead of Friday’s full-team session. He did not take part in the full-team skate.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced on Friday morning that Crosby would be out.
“This isn’t anything that our team isn’t accustomed to,” Sullivan said. “We’ve played a fair amount of this season in these circumstances, in these situations.It’s a great opportunity for guys to step up and play more significant roles and contribute in other ways to help the team win. I think our players are excited about it. And they’ve shown an ability to rise to the occasion.”
Crosby had been dominating the series with nine points through the first five games. But late in the second period on Wednesday, as he went to playa puck near the right faceoff dot, Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba came in high. His elbow appeared to connect with Crosby’s head. The Rangers blue-liner did not receive a penalty on the ice and was not subject to any supplemental discipline from the league.
The absence forced the Penguins to reshuffle their lineup to fill the void. Evgeni Malkin was bumped up to the top line between Crosby’s regular wingers, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust.
Historically, Malkin has found a way to elevate his game when Crosby is absent. He has produced 1.13 points per game in the 833 contests with Crosby. In the 148 games without him? He’s racked up 1.34points per game.
“I think his track record speaks for itself,” Sullivan said. “He’s a terrific hockey player. I know how much he cares about helping this team win. I know how invested he is in the Pittsburgh Penguins. We expect him to be the player that he’s been for us my whole time here.”
Meanwhile, versatile forward Evan Rodrigues moved into the middle of a pseudo second line, centering Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen. On several instances, Sullivan has noted how much the club has liked Rodrigues in the middle.
“Oneof the reasons why we signed E-Rod was because of his versatility and our ability to move him up and down our lineup, depending on what the needs of the team are,” Sullivan said. “He’s certainly fulfilled that for us this year and then some. He’s had a real solid year for us. He’s played some of his best hockey at the center position.”
Jarry update
Jarry was a full participant at the full team skate for the first time since sustaining a broken foot. But he, too, missed Game 6.
Asked if the club considered using Jarry as a backup behind starter Louis Domingue, Sullivan said that the coaching staff and medical team have had some of those conversations “behind the scenes.”
“We’re trying to put players in position to be successful,” Sullivan said. “We understand how important he is to our team. And so we’re trying tomake decisions accordingly that are best for the team and best for Tristan.”
It’s important to remember that playing goal is different than being a skater — and so, too, is the return-toplay process. The position is predicated upon reaction time and muscle memory. So even if a netminder is physically able to stop a puck without the risk of reinjury, it still takes additional time to be ready to face live playoff action.
Friday was the first time Jarry has even seen live 5on-5 action in front of him since his foot was broken April 14.
In total, Jarry has now been on the ice five times, progressing from taking mental reps at first to fielding shots from goaltending coach Andy Chiodo.
He took what Sullivan termed a “big step” in his recovery Wednesday when he participated in an optional morning skate, facing 2-on-1s and other similar drills that can be done with only about a dozen players on the ice.
More injury updates
Rakell, who has not played since taking a hit to the head in Game 1, skated with the team again on Friday. Sullivan officially labeled him a “game-time decision,” but that may have been a bit of gamesmanship. Rakell did not take line rushes, so it appeared the Penguins were making preparations for him to miss his fifth consecutive playoff game.
His absence rippled all the way to the fourth line. Second-year pro Drew O’Connor jumped in on Teddy Blueger line on a trio that also featured Brian Boyle.
Finally, Dumoulin missed his fifth consecutive playoff game due to a lower-body injury. He is continuing the off-ice portion of his rehab and has not been on the ice since the morning skate ahead of Game 2.