PENGUINS MAY ACTIVATE O’CONNOR TONIGHT AGAINST BRUINS

With Evan Rodrigues expected to miss substantial time recovering from a lower body injury, expect a new face in the Penguins’ lineup tonight: rookie winger Drew O’Connor. At Penguins practice yesterday, O’Connor skated on the fourth line and on the second power play unit.

O’Connor was signed by the Pens ten months ago as a top undrafted college free agent out of Dartmouth. He says that if he is inserted into the lineup tonight, he will be ready to play.

Rodrigues was injured Sunday against the Rangers when he collided knee-to-knee with Filip Chytil. Coach Mike Sullivan said yesterday only that it was a “long-term” injury to the lower body. O’Connor would have to be promoted from the taxi squad in order to crack the lineup tonight. Winger Sam Lafferty also skated with the active roster players yesterday and would also need a roster move to elevate from the taxi squad.

The Penguins have won four straight while not playing their best hockey. Sullivan says hockey is a game that has a lot of variable factors, so the focus is always on what can be controlled.

With the Penguins having had to come from behind in all four games of the winning streak, defenseman John Marino says they need to get off to better starts.