Penguins Update: Is Mark Friedman Expanding Mike Sullivan’s Comfort Zone?

I don’t know about you. But I was more than mildly surprised yesterday afternoon when Penguins coach Mike Sullivan scratched regular defenseman Marcus Pettersson in favor of Mark Friedman.

While Pettersson’s hardly an all-star, the rangy Swede is generally steady and reliable, misplay on the Golden Knights’ first goal the other night notwithstanding. Yet there was Friedman yesterday, joining the rush barely two minutes into yesterday’s Metro tilt with the ‘Canes and firing off a hard wrister from the slot, jump-starting the Pens’ offense and forcing Antti Raanta to make a big save early.

For good measure he goaded/provoked/irritated (pick your adjective) Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Martinook into first-period penalties, one for boarding and the other for high-sticking.

Near the end of the second period Friedman was on the verge of dropping the gloves with an unspecified ‘Cane. All in a day’s work for the abrasive 26-year-old defender.

It’s the type of on-ice behavior Sullivan would’ve had low-to-zero tolerance for in the past. Indeed, our coach had little use for Ryan Reaves when the burly winger was liquidating opposing heavies during his all-too-brief stay in the ‘Burgh. Jamie Oleksiak lost his job shortly after a set-to with the Caps’ Tom Wilson…and soon after was shipped back to Dallas from whence he came. Erik Gudbranson was ultra-disciplined during his stint with the Pens, committing just four minor penalties in 26 regular-season games with the black and gold.

No matter. He didn’t last long, either.

So what’s changed? Why does Sullivan seem to tolerate Friedman’s edginess while other aggressive types were shown the door?

For one, the kid can play. He’s an excellent skater who possesses underrated offensive skills and has a good sense for knowing when to jump into the play. In the d-zone, he uses his smallish but muscular frame to box opponents out from around the net, protecting his goalie in the process. And he does have that knack for baiting foes. In the eight games he’s been back in the lineup, Friedman-drawn penalties have provided the Pens with four power plays. He hasn’t left us shorthanded once. While the Toronto native excels at stirring the pot, he also seems to know when to say when in terms of aggressive play.

But Sullivan hasn’t stopped with Friedman. In a move I find as surprising as necessary (and effective), he’s dressed big Brian Boyle, no speed merchant, the past two games. To make room, he scratched long-time personal favorite Dominik Simon.

Although not for a lack of hustle and effort, Simon hadn’t tallied a point in his previous eight games and was a virtual no-show on the score sheet since mid-January. With a goal and two assists and a combined eight hits, Boyle was a driving force in the wins over Vegas and Carolina. In two instances yesterday afternoon, his bruising play along the wall led directly to goals.

Size, at least in some cases, does matter.

Given Sully’s seeming aversion to physical players in the past, it almost makes me wonder if he was “encouraged” behind the scenes by GM Ron Hextall and Brian Burke to play Friedman and Boyle. Of course there’s no way of knowing. Nor do I wish to deflect credit where credit is due from our skipper.

Whatever the underlying reasons, his decisions have provided a spark and made us harder to play against. Not to mention helping us where it matters most…in the win-loss column.