No Kappy No Worries…Penguins Blank Sabres

At the end of my last post I included a section titled Call Me Crazy. I alluded to the very remote possibility that the Penguins may have an interest in bringing Phil Kessel back for an encore.

Perhaps my next statement will seem even crazier. Maybe our Biblical plague of injuries are a blessing in disguise.

Yeah, you read that right. Follow my logic (or illogic) if you will.

One of the upside-down benefits of all the injuries? In this COVID condensed season when a compressed schedule has teams playing an ungodly number of back-to-back games, a lot of our key players are getting a break, unplanned as it is. That can only help us down the road, especially when teams that are comparatively healthy at the present might start to wear down.

The greatest benefit? Having so many guys in sick-bay has forced coach Mike Sullivan and his staff to give guys a look they might otherwise ignore. Not only are these players getting a look, they’re getting a much-needed chance to prove themselves.

A case in point…rookie Radim Zohorna. If we were hale and hearty, it’s doubtful the towering 24-year-old Czech forward would receive so much as a cameo. But there he was last night, front and center, absolutely burying a beautiful feed from fellow redwood Anthony Angello to stake us to a lead. Paving the way for a 4-0 triumph over downtrodden Buffalo.

From what I observed, the Zohorna-Angello-Frederick Gaudreau line was quite good (a combined goal and three points). Is it possible we’ve stumbled upon an effective fourth line? One that checks off our long-standing need to add functional size and oomph to the lineup?

Yes. The beauty is, all three come cheap. And Zohorna and Angello can both skate for big men. Which, hopefully, will lessen Sullivan’s reticence toward using them.

Yet another benefit? Dire as it is, our present injury situation has thrust support players who were on the cusp into elevated roles. I’ll admit this one’s a bit of a two-edged sword. Some guys can handle extra duties and some can’t.

One player squarely in the former category is Brandon Tanev…unfortunately among the wounded. Another is Jared McCann. Talented but enigmatic and prone to blowing hot and cold, McCann stepped up in a big way last night to score the Pens’ second and third goals…both on the power play. The tallies looked like “doublegangers” as a friend is fond of saying…in both instances No. 19 ripped the puck home from the slot. My word, does McCann possess a wicked shot and release!

Again, doubtful he gets that opportunity with all hands on deck. (Instead, we’d likely be watching the usual suspects pass the puck around the perimeter.)

Too, having guys slot up in the lineup gives the coaching staff a fresh perspective on team makeup, while revealing who among the injured might serve as trade-bait. Jason Zucker and his $5.5 million cap hit (and low production) immediately comes to mind as a guy who might not have a definable role when everyone’s healthy.

Last, and certainly not least, giving guys basic training in shouldering extra loads can only help come playoff time. To win a Cup, you need production from up and down the lineup, not just from your core players.

It only bodes well for a team that just might surprise some people come the postseason.

Puckpourri

Casey DeSmith made 36 saves to post his second shutout of the season (and second in four starts) to earn top-star honors. At present, Casey is third in the league in goals against average (1.93) and fourth in save percentage (.928) among netminders who’ve played at least 10 games.

Jake Guentzel capped the Pens’ scoring with an empty netter, his 14th goal of the season. Without much fanfare, Jake’s been hot of late, netting seven goals in his past 10 games.

Speaking of hot, Sidney Crosby’s playing like a man possessed. He tallied three assists last night, including his 1300th NHL point, and won 71 percent of his faceoffs. Just another day at the office for No. 87.

Seven Pens forwards registered points. Kris Letang picked up two helpers from the back end.

Gaudreau collected an assist and logged 4:45 of shorthanded ice time, tops among black-and-gold forwards.

Mike Matheson’s ice time has dwindled recently. Last night he logged 13:52, including 3:05 of power-play time. The game before, a season low 13:49. An indication that the coaching staff may be tiring of his adventure-time defense?

With 44 points and a .647 points percentage, the Pens hold third place outright in the MassMutual East, seven points ahead of Boston. The improving Rangers and skidding Flyers are tied for fifth with 34 points.

Up next, the first-place Islanders, minus captain Anders Lee, on Saturday night at the “Paint Can.”