Confidence, opportunity leading to success for Penguins' Evan Rodrigues

For Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues, explaining his success this season is a series of progressions.

“Opportunity and confidence,” Rodrigues said Tuesday when asked about why he’s been so productive this season. “I got off to a pretty good start early in the year. I got a lot of opportunities to play. Playing center gave me a lot of puck touches. The more plays you make, the more confident you get. I’m trusting in my ability.”

Rodrigues got an increased chance to play this season because of the Penguins’ injuries and coronavirus situations.

Those opportunities resulted in the increased touches he referenced. Those touches resulted in points. And those points resulted in even more opportunities once the Penguins got healthy again. Rodrigues stayed in the lineup and has continued to produce.

The seven-year NHL veteran has already tied his career-high with nine goals. Rodrigues is at 22 points through 28 games. He’s never topped 29, a mark he reached in 2018-19.

And not only has he stayed in the lineup, but he’s also been spending time on Sidney Crosby’s line.

“He’s got a lot of speed,” Crosby said. “He’s got a lot of poise with the puck. As far as holding onto it and making plays, he does a really good job of that. He’s patient with it.”

Crosby echoed Rodrigues’ comments about the intangible of confidence becoming a very tangible thing — particularly in his willingness to attempt one-timers.

“He’s got a lot of confidence when he shoots it,” Crosby continued. “That’s one thing that has stood out. He’s got a great shot and he is shooting it a little bit more and obviously seeing it go in, that helps.”

Want evidence? Look at the power-play bullet he fired past Montreal Canadiens goalie Jake Allen Tuesday night as part of a 5-2 victory.

THE SNIPE, DISCUSS WE MUST. pic.twitter.com/H0sgUtaW0S

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 15, 2021

As Rodrigues said, that aspect of his game isn’t just about opportunity. It’s about work ethic.

That can beget confidence, too.

“After practice, (I’m) just taking a lot of them,” Rodrigues said of his slapshot. “You start to feel comfortable and confident in it. You just have to continue to shoot. Some will go in. Some won’t. I’m just going to continue to let it rip and some are going in the back of the net.”

The development of Rodrigues is making an impression on Penguins coach Mike Sullivan.

“He’s a good player, and he is executing,” Sullivan said after the victory against Montreal. “He is making plays. He is on the puck. He is making good decisions. He’s been solid defensively on the other side of the puck. No matter what position we put him in, he has thrived and that is a credit to him.

Not that Sullivan disagrees with Rodrigues’ initial assessment. The coach just wants to build off of it.

“Opportunity is one thing. Taking advantage of it is another. That’s what ‘ERod’ has done. He has maximized the opportunity, and he has earned even more through his performance,” Sullivan said.

With the likes of Jake Guentzel, Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust still out with injuries, those opportunities are going to continue for Rodrigues. The Penguins need his confidence — and production — to continue.

TribLIVE Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins Tim Benz for a Friday hockey podcast. They talk about Evan Rodrigues’ impact, Sidney Crosby’s recent improvements, the Penguins’ upcoming schedule before the holiday break and Christmas crab legs.