With some unscheduled time off thanks to the New Jersey Devils’ covid-19 outbreak, the Penguins have time to work on their anemic power play, which is 0-for-19 in the last five games. The Pens were to play Jersey last night and again tomorrow night, but instead are off until their Saturday night game in New York against the Islanders.
At practice yesterday, Zach Aston-Reese and Mike Matheson worked out with their teammates, and coach Mike Sullivan sounded optimistic about their progress. Matheson may be able to return on Saturday after being injured in the second game of the season three weeks ago. At least that is what it seems, as the Penguins assigned rookie defenseman Will Reilly to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre yesterday, and returned rookie winger Drew O’Connor and defenseman Kevin Czuczman to the taxi squad.
Besides the Penguins/Devils postponement, the only other game scheduled in the NHL Eastern Division was between Buffalo and the Islanders, and it was postponed because of travel issues due to the winter storm hitting New York state.
