The Penguins have turned around their 0-3 start with consecutive wins against the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs to climb back to the verge of respectability.
The one thing that they haven’t fixed is the team’s 0-for-17 power play. The newest alignment, featuring Chris Kunitz in front of the net instead of Patric Hornqvist, was featured at today’s morning skate. The rest of the alignment has Kris Letang the point, Sidney Crosby on the right wall, Evgeni Malkin on the left wall and Phil Kessel in the middle.
“We have some options there,” head coach Mike Johnston said. “On the power play, you don’t want to lock guys into positions. Your point guy is your point guy and your net guy is your net guy. The other three people can interchange.”
As for Kunitz, Johnston thinks he and Hornqvist are equally suited for that net-front role.
“They’re very, very good net guys,” Johnston said. “They have good hands down low. They’re good screen guys. Either one of them could be on either unit.”
SPRONG UNAVAILABLE
Rookie right-winger Daniel Sprong won’t be in the lineup tonight and didn’t practice today. Not to worry, it isn’t an injury, that’s holding him back.
“Daniel’s in Canada getting an extension on his Visa,” Johnston said. “He had an appointment yesterday morning and the appointment got delayed. Once the process is completed, he’ll be back here right away.”
JAGR RETURNS
Penguins great Jaromir Jagr will be making his only scheduled visit to the arena tonight with the Florida Panthers. Jagr, now 43, may not be the same player that scored 439 goals in 806 games as one of the Penguins all-time great players, but that doesn’t mean he’s no longer special.
“It’s really amazing, at that age, that he can still play at a high level. I really think the players that last that long, they evolve in some sort of capacity, whether it’s preparation or mindset or changing their game just slightly to still use the skills they have.” said Johnston. “He’s still a very effective player.”
LEGAL MATTERS
Former Penguins wingers Kevin Stevens and Krzysztof Oliwa have joined the ongoing concussion-related lawsuit against the NHL.
Stevens’ play was never the same after falling unconscious to the ice as a result of a hit by New York Islanders defenseman Rich Pilon in the 1993 playoffs. Oliwa, a 6-foot-5 enforcer, finished his NHL career with 1,447 penalty minues in just 410 games.
Photo credit: NHLI/Getty Images
