The Penguins begin the 2021-22 season without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but with many of the same players who led the team to the East Division title last season.
This year, there is no East Division. After a year of realignment because of the pandemic, the NHL is back to normal, with the Penguins back in the Metropolitan Division with the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins will begin the season tonight with the first of two away games in Florida, which will be followed by eight straight games at home.
Tonight, they will watch the Tampa Bay Lightning raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner, and then get down to playing the new season. Yesterday, the Pens announced their final roster, although there will be changes before faceoff tonight.
The final cuts included promising young prospects Drew O’Connor, Radim Zahorna, and Anthony Angelo. After roster shuffling today that will include long-term injured reserve for Malkin, O’Connor will likely be called back and play on the fourth line.
Veteran forward Brian Boyle, who was in training camp on a professional tryout contract, is expected to sign a one-year deal today at the veteran minimum and center the fourth line.
Coach Mike Sullivan said yesterday that Jake Guentzel returned to the ice after sitting out for covid-19. He ruled out Guentzel and Zach Aston-Reese playing tonight but did not rule them out of Thursday’s game against the Panthers. Aston-Reese also had covid-19.
Sullivan said Crosby will not play on the road trip. Crosby is also skating with the team after having wrist surgery.
On the ice, Sullivan says one of the biggest concerns the Penguins addressed in training camp was penalty killing. He says they’re not quite “there” yet.
Forward Kasperi Kapanen missed training camp last year because he was stuck overseas by travel restrictions due to the pandemic. He’s had a good camp this year and says he’s excited to get the season started.
Defenseman John Marino is looking for a rebound year and has a new partner on the blue line. He’s paired with offensive-minded defenseman Mike Matheson, and says he’s getting used to a new style of play. Marino also says getting to practice against superstars on his own team helps him get ready for playing the likes of Tampa Bay’s star, Nikita Kucherov.
Working the Penguins’ first power play unit tonight in the absence of Crosby and Malkin will be Jeff Carter, Kapanen, and Bryan Rust up front, and Kris Letang and Jason Zucker on the blue line.
Tonight’s game will be on 92.5 FM U92 and the U92 Sportschannel online at U92radio.com. Airtime will be 6:30.
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