Penguins Playoff Update: Big Z to the Rescue

With the status of injured forwards Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell still very much in the air, the Penguins recalled Radim Zohorna from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton yesterday.

In Zorro-esque fashion, “Big Z” has been leaving his mark on the Calder Cup playoffs. Following a solid regular season with the Baby Pens (a dozen goals and 21 points in 39 games), the hulking 6’6” 220-pounder’s tallied two goals and three assists in four postseason contests.

Zohorna also skated in 17 regular-season games for the Pens and scored a pair of goals and four assists. He was plus-12, tied for third-best among black-and-gold forwards with Teddy Blueger, behind only Crosby and Jake Guentzel.

For his NHL career spread over two seasons Zohorna’s amassed four goals and 10 points in 25 games.

Personally, I’ve always been intrigued by the 26-year-old. There’s that size, for one. Also the fact that he skates pretty well for a big man. Soft hands, vision and smarts, too.

Drew O’Connor’s another option. “DOC” also provides much-needed size (6’3” 200) and good wheels for a bigger man. He’s averaged nearly a point per game spread over two seasons for the offensively-challenged Baby Pens. No easy feat. The 23-year-old cut his playoff teeth in Game 2, although with a minus-2 in just 6:33 of ice time he may not have earned Mike Sullivan’s trust.

How’s Sid?

The Pens are, understandably, mum about Crosby’s status. He’s being evaluated for an “upper-body” injury.  While I hate to speculate, given the force of the hit (cheap shot) and point of contact, not to mention Sid’s history, a concussion seems a strong possibility. So, too, would be a neck injury, a contributing factor to his concussion woes a decade ago.

An encouraging tweet made the rounds yesterday, claiming Crosby looked no worse for the wear after Game 5, but obviously that’s nothing to hang our hat (or hopes) on. Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery…for his sake, ours and the team’s.

If Sid can’t go? Look for Evgeni Malkin to step between Guentzel and Bryan Rust on the top line. A combo that my esteemed colleague, Other Rick, feels could be deadly according to advanced metrics.

No Punishment for Trouba

The oxymoron that is the NHL Department of Player Safety declined to mete out any punishment to Jacob Trouba for his blatant, dangerous and down-right dirty elbow-smash to Sid’s head. From the sounds of it, not so much as a slap on the wrist.

Way to go DOPS. (Perhaps DOPES would be a better acronym.)

Of course, this being the Stanley Cup playoffs, you pretty much have to commit manslaughter to draw a sentence. Sid’s still breathing.

However, you could argue we dodged a bullet as well. Malkin’s gloves-and-stick to the chops of Rangers forward Kevin Rooney during a line-change scrum could easily have drawn some sort of reprimand, especially in light of Geno’s recent four-game suspension for a similar infraction.

While I love Geno’s feistiness and willingness to mix it up, I hope he can channel that emotion and passion into a monster performance tonight. We could sure use one.

The Cart(s) Before the Horse

Center Jeff Carter has had an uneven series to say the least. On the plus side, “Carts” has three goals, second-most on the team. He’s been dominant in the faceoff circle as well (63.6 percent).

However, the big guy’s also a team-worst minus-three and has the third worst Corsi (42.17). He was on the ice for four of the Rangers’ goals on Wednesday night.

His defensive-play in general has been lagging for a while (minus-10 over his last 17 regular-season games). Perhaps due, at least in part, to his advanced age (37) and heavy usage early on.

Unfortunately, with Sid out, Carter will once again need to shoulder a heavy workload, likely seeing second-line duty. Let’s hope the former Kings Cup-winner’s up to the task.

Around the League

The Blues eliminated the Wild last night, setting up what should be an epic second-round matchup with the Avalanche. The Bruins, Lightning and Oilers evened their respective series against the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs and Kings to set up winner-take-all Game 7’s.

Following a Game 5 loss when they held a 3-1 series lead? The Pens are 6-3 in Game 6.