Penguins forward Galchenyuk reunited with Jared McCann vs. Rangers

NEW YORK — Before Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Alex Galchenyuk had played in only eight games this season, but he already has skated with three centers, having lined up with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jared McCann

Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, Galchenyuk was reunited with McCann because Crosby was sidelined with an undisclosed injury. McCann skated at center between Galchenyuk on the left wing and Jake Guentzel on the right wing.

McCann and Galchenyuk skated together for most of the team’s 7-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 5. In that contest, McCann was teamed with Galchenyuk and forward Brandon Tanev when center Evgeni Malkin left the game because of an undisclosed injury.

Galchenyuk recorded his first point of the season with a primary assist on a second-period goal by McCann. He also recorded a primary assist on a power-play goal by Kris Letang. Before Tuesday, it was his only multipoint game as a member of the Penguins.

“(Galchenyuk) and Jake are both obviously very skilled and like to have the puck,” McCann said. “I’m going to try to complement them with going to the net and trying to create some lanes for them and getting in front of the goalie’s eyes.”

McCann acknowledged he needs to make adjustments to his game in order to play with two of the teams most skilled players on his wings.

“(Galchenyuk is) a guy who likes to obviously shoot first,” McCann said. “I’m the type of guy who likes to do the same. I’ll definitely have to change the way I play a little bit with kind of getting them the puck and going to the net and getting in the goalie’s eyes and trying to bang one in.”

Simon works with Malkin

For most of his NHL existence, forward Dominik Simon has skated primarily with Crosby as his center. Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Simon has logged 718 minutes, 46 seconds of five-on-five ice time with Crosby, his highest total with any skater on the roster.

With Crosby sidelined, Simon found a fairly competent replacement Tuesday in Malkin.

“Another great player,” Simon said. “I’m really excited for it. We played together at the end of the last game. It felt really good. Just going to get ready for it and perform my best and help the line.”

Having been blessed with the opportunity to play with two future Hall-of-Fame centers hasn’t been exactly a dream for Simon.

“It helps you if you play with them more, then you don’t have to pinch yourself that much,” joked Simon, who entered Tuesday with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 17 games this season. “It’s definitely about getting used to (it) and not thinking about it too much. If you think about it too much, it doesn’t help. You just got to trust your game and play the best you can.”

Inury updates

Coach Mike Sullivan was asked if Crosby had been ruled out for Friday’s road game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but didn’t offer any insight beyond immediate concerns.

“Right now, our focus is on the game (Tuesday), and he’s out,” Sullivan said.

Crosby left Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win at home against the Chicago Blackhawks after falling awkwardly in a collision with Chicago defenseman Erik Gustafsson along the boards.

There were a few more specifics on Letang, who is also sidelined because of an undisclosed injury.

“He didn’t travel with the team,” Sullivan said. “He’s continuing to make progress, but he’s still in the process of rehab.”

Forward Patric Hornqvist is on injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment.

The Penguins’ healthy scratch was defenseman Chad Ruhwedel. He has yet to play this season.