Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has seen enough of his powerless power play, which has one goal in its last twenty opportunities over the last eight games. Yesterday at practice, he broke up the unit, even though sniper Bryan Rust and veteran Rickard Rakell are currently sidelined with injuries. Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith were dropped to the second group and Radim Zohorna and Vinnie Hinostroza parked their big bodies in front of the net, with Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and Erik Karlsson rounding out the top unit. Malkin and Smith worked with Jeff Carter, Alex Nylander, and Kris Letang on the second unit.
Sullivan says he is looking for the right mix of skills and playing styles with the man advantage, like a willingness to clog up the front of the net.
The coach says when the power play doesn’t work, it can affect other aspects of the Penguins’ attack.
The Penguins skate at Buffalo tonight and are home to play Toronto tomorrow night. It’s a 5 o’clock pregame, 6 o’clock faceoff on U92.5 FM.
The status of Bryan Rust remains the same. He is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
In what has become almost a daily occurrence in the last week, forward Jansen Harkins was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton again yesterday. He’s shuttled back and forth across the state three times this week.
