Long run of scratches not getting easier for Cole
SAN JOSE, Calif. — As the Penguins game against the Sharks Saturday night got underway, Ian Cole took the position that has become all too familiar for him over the past two weeks — in the press box.
Cole was a healthy scratch Saturday for the sixth consecutive game, and has not played for the Penguins since Jan. 5 against the Islanders.
The defenseman has been in and out of the lineup as a coach’s decision since late November, but this is the longest such stretch of the season. And while it might not be a surprise any more, Cole said Friday after the Penguins practice that doesn’t ease the sting much.
“It doesn’t get easier,” he said. “Does [frustration] mount? It certainly mounts quick at first and then it’s pretty continuous. I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone. Obviously everyone’s a professional, everyone wants to play. It’s certainly something that you wouldn’t ideally want to happen.”
Mike Sullivan said he and the coaching staff have communicated to Cole the reasoning behind their decision. From Cole’s perspective, he’s just trying to keep as positive an attitude as he can throughout this period.
“I think that me, as a player, what I’m going to do isn’t going to change,” Cole said. “I try to do my job and do it very well, and help the team win. That’s really my only thought about my game. I don’t think that’s going to change based on how many games I’m out. I’m still going to try to do my job to help the team win games.”
He’s also not immune to the trade chatter that has swirled around his name for the past two months. But he’s trying not to focus on it, either.
“That’s something that I try to let the management figure out,” Cole said. “My job as a player is just to try to play well when I get the chance. I think I’ve done a pretty good job this year of playing well. That’s one of those things that’s kind of out of your hands sometimes. “
DeSmith gets the nod
Casey DeSmith earned his second consecutive start in net for the Penguins Saturday night, two days after beating the Kings, 3-1, in his first NHL start.
Sullivan admitted it was “a very tough decision” between DeSmith and Tristan Jarry.
“We believe in both of these guys, they’ve played good hockey for us,” Sullivan said. “Quite honestly, we really liked Casey’s game against L.A. When he plays well, he tends to be a guy that gets hot and so it’s a decision that the coaching staff made in this particular game.”
Defensive consistency
The Penguins started the game Saturday night with the same defense pairings they’ve had for six consecutive games. Even as the forward lines have been shuffled, the pairings of Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz, and Matt Hunwick and Jamie Oleksiak have remained the same.
“We’ve liked the pairs that have been together here over the past handful of games,” Sullivan said. “They’ve played really well. We think they have established a little bit of chemistry, and we’ll see where it goes. We make these decision game-to-game, but certainly we’ve liked what we’ve seen.”
Defense getting healthy
Schultz technically was a game-time decision after missing most of the third period Thursday against the Kings. Schultz left the game after being cross-checked from behind by Dustin Brown, but said he cleared the concussion protocol.
Sullivan also said Chad Ruhwedel is getting close to the point where he’s an option for the Penguins, but he was not against the Sharks.