The Pittsburgh Penguins needed 35 players to make it through their 56-game regular season. At one point, they were down to their 12th defenseman. Other times, four of their top nine forwards were out.
But with the postseason about to begin, indications are the Penguins could have the luxury of using the top 19 players it typically takes to play an NHL game.
Defensemen Mike Matheson, goalie Tristan Jarry and forwards Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev and Evan Rodrigues were full participants in practice Tuesday in Cranberry. Each had missed time of varying lengths — from Tanev’s 18 games to Malkin’s 8-plus minutes in the Penguins’ season finale — because of injuries, and there was at least some question about the status of all for the opening of the playoffs.
“It’s always good to have guys come back,” wing Kasperi Kapanen said via video conference call with media. “Knock on wood, hopefully everybody stays healthy. And if everybody’s healthy, we have a pretty stacked lineup.”
The Penguins will face the New York Islanders in a first-round series that will begin at an undetermined point in the next week.
The only injured player who would be expected to dress for Game 1 is No. 2 goalie Casey DeSmith (lower-body injury).
But Jarry (upper-body) was back after missing Saturday’s regular-season finale because of an upper-body ailment. Malkin missed the final few shifts of that 1-0 win against the Buffalo Sabres out of precaution with respect to an injury to his right knee that had kept him out for 23 games prior.
Rodrigues (lower body) and Matheson (upper body) missed the final five and four games, respectively, of the regular season. Tanev (upper-body) has not played since April 3.
Men playing ice hockey for financial compensation. Preparing to face a group based in Long Island at some point in the next week.
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) May 11, 2021
Of note: Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev, Mike Matheson, Evan Rodrigues and Tristan Jarry all are taking part as full participants pic.twitter.com/haNLmgt0vx
But during line rushes Tuesday, Tanev was in his familiar spot on the right wing of Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese. Matheson was on the left side of a pairing with Cody Ceci, and Malkin was centering Kapanen and Jason Zucker.
“We think (Malkin) will get better with each day that he’s on the ice with each game that he plays,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “That’s what we’ve witnessed when we watched him back with the lineup the last four games.”
Rodrigues was not on any of the four lines, but that is likely because coach Mike Sullivan would make him a healthy scratch in the event all his forwards were healthy and available.
Frederick Gaudreau was on the right wing of a line with Jared McCann and center Jeff Carter.
Matheson wore an old-school caged mask as he has during other skates since he suffered his injury.
Tuesday’s practice lasted more than an hour. Sullivan was expected to address reporters at its conclusion.
