Brazeau, Crosby, Muse Media Availability (12.3.25) | Pittsburgh Penguins

Brazeau, Crosby, Muse Media Availability (12.3.25) | Pittsburgh Penguins

just how how do you feel healthwise? All right. Yeah. Yeah. Getting closer. Um feel better every day. So, it’s a good thing. Um I’m obviously anxious to get back and excited to get back. So, uh taking good steps each day, so try to build on that. When the coach’s doctors have final say, but would you anticipate tomorrow, this weekend? Any uh I’m not really sure to be honest with you. That was the first step and see how that feels kind of tomorrow and then kind of go from there. So, um yeah, I haven’t been told anything. So, are you allowed at all to tell us what happened or No, I’m going to keep that one hush hush. Fair enough. Yeah. Um just rotten time. I mean, you were off such a hot start. No injury is convenient ever, but given how you started that it seemed like that was particularly inconvenient. Yeah, obviously, especially when it’s kind of your first good started like like that. Um it’s not ideal, but like you said, things happen and um it’s kind of the way you bounce back from obviously I feel good right now. Had a good last couple weeks of being able to get back in the gym and kind of get that strength back a little bit, too. So, you know, I feel pretty good healthwise that way. And, you know, just try to look to build on what I had. That is such a good start. Is this just as simple as being a player with a guy like Gino? But I’m one of the bet you you probably think you had a lot to do with that. No, I mean that obviously helps a lot. Um anytime you have a guy like that, um I think mostly too just confidence like I think I kind of came into this year I mean obviously I didn’t have the end of the year last year that I that I wanted but um I thought you know especially early on there were stretches there where I was able to really get to my game and I kind of you know I knew I could kind of be this player. I mean, obviously, I wouldn’t coming into the year, I wouldn’t have said I would have been a point per game guy, but um I think just the belief that I can play and, you know, be a be a good player and not just kind of a fourth line guy. I think I’ve believed myself like that. So, I just got to kind of keep building on it and keep working. I was going to say, you kind of stole my question. I wanted to ask, did you expect to have point per game player? But let me ask, what were your expectations coming? I mean, obviously more opportunity compared to maybe some other places, but what were your expectations with that? Yeah, I mean obvious like I don’t really set goals in terms of points and that. Um it’s more about kind of how I feel and you know I think coming in my expectation was just to try to play with as much confidence I could. Um obviously I was told like you know you get a chance to play with guys like that. Um you just have to try to do your best to read off them and you know try to make their life as easy as possible because you know they’re the guys you want to have the puck on their stick and stuff like that. So, um, yeah, I just kind of came in with that mindset of trying to, you know, get to my game, do the best I can, help those guys out. Um, and if the points come, they come. If they don’t, they don’t. Like, it’s one of those things where you can get points and not play very well. And I care more about playing well, and if the points come, great. If they don’t, just keep doing the right things. Obviously, you said, um, you’re trying to stay in shape on the physical side while you’ve been out. But, uh, what have you done kind of on the mental side as well? You know, obviously, it’s probably hard seeing the team play these games and you can’t. So, what has really helped you with that? Yeah, obviously it’s tough. I mean, I think luckily for me, two things. I’ve had this a little bit before. My first year I called up, you know, I played whatever it was, 18, 19 games and broke my wrist. So, I’ve kind of gone through it a little bit before trying to get back to playing. Um, and then having a couple guys. Obviously, you don’t want people to be hurt, but there are a few of us right now. So, being able to kind of see some familiar faces around the rink. It’s not like I’m coming in every day by myself and it’s just me out there. So, that’s helped. But, yeah, it’s obviously tough. you just have to try to stay ready and you know cheer the guys on as best you can. Obviously you’re the biggest cheerleader when you’re not playing. So um just try to be supportive, try to when they are home get around them as much as I can feel part of the group like that. So but yeah, just one of those things we have to kind of stick with it. And obviously at the start of the season you were played a huge part in helping this team win games and what does that mean like for you knowing that you played such a huge role and that kind of that eagerness to pick up where you left off? Yeah, I mean it’s obviously nice. Um, like I said earlier though, like I just I just try to do what I do best and play my game the best I can. And you know, there’s there’s things in this game you can’t control. The only thing you control is like your effort and how you play the game. So, um, I just worry about those things and, you know, the rest will take care of itself. Thank you. A lot of guys over the years, like especially young guys or new guys to the team, and they talk about if they play with you, they have to be really ready for any kind of throw setup at any point. But seems like you have that talent, too, like the one that Rusty kicked out to the slot, just different things. you’re you’re the classic Tanger one with your with with the deflection at the post. How are how do you approach that? Are you always ready for the puck? Are you always ready to get off of a scoring chance? Yeah, I think especially around the net, you got to keep your stick on the ice and, you know, be focused on finding the puck. You know, there’s a lot of bounces and um you don’t have a lot of time, you know, in those small areas to to get your stick on the puck if you’re, you know, battling and stuff like that. So yeah, I think you’re just trying to, you know, get away from your check and then and find the puck, you know, as fast as you can. So you have really been going to the net a lot. Like a lot of your goals last few weeks, you scored from right on top of the goalender almost. Um that by design or is you’re just going where the puck is or how would you describe your mindset there? Yeah, I mean I think that’s where I typically, you know, look to score goals. You know, I’m not firing one-times every night. Um that’s you know try to get there and some nights you go there and you know you don’t you don’t find those loose pucks or you know for whatever reason and you know some nights you go there and they end up there you know you look at first goal in Philadelphia there I mean it goes through the goalie’s arm and then just lays there and you know you could do that lots of times and you know goalie squeezes it there’s a whistle but you know that’s that’s why you go there and try to be ready to find pucks and you know just uh stay ready all the I mean, I mean, Rusty’s pass on the second goal there was, you know, one I almost wasn’t ready for just cuz he, you know, he sold like he was going to walk and and shoot. So, it’s just trying to stay ready, too. But, I’ve been thinking about these other goals like you’ve had many, many over the last, you know, like the two Buffalo goals, the, you know, the goal against Toronto, you’re standing right on top of the goalie. It’s just been kind of crazy. I mean, I’m just wondering if maybe there’s a different level of comfort there being in front of the net than maybe there was five 10 years ago or whatever just because the way D don’t play the same way or Yeah, I don’t know. I I think I’m just trying to go there. I don’t think I’ve, you know, tried to approach it that much differently. I think uh, you know, I think as a line though, we’ve I think we’ve tried to just put pucks on net in general, you know, just from different areas and just try to create loose pucks off of that. So, you know, like I said, sometimes those end up on guy sticks, sometimes they don’t. And when they’re ended up there, you got to bury them. Sid, u next week, Ray Shiro is going to be honored at the US Hockey Hall of Fame with the Buster Patrick Trophy just for his contributions to hockey. Just wanted to get your thoughts on him being honored in that way and also what he meant to your career. Yeah, I mean, it’s obviously welld deserved. Um, he had amazing career and um, you know, had a huge impact on our team here. I think he uh you know when it comes to the culture and you know just uh you know instilling that that winning atmosphere and environment he was a big part of that with you know just how he structured everything and and all the people that he brought in and the team he put together. So um yeah it’s it’s welld deserved. Uh Copenan and Mandel make the trip. Yeah. Will Achari and Rizzo be available? They’re going to travel with us. Yeah. I mean, today was a obviously a big step there for them. Um, just in their return to play and their uh, you know, being out there with the team and full contact. Uh, both guys looked good. Um, so they’re getting close. Um, I don’t think for tomorrow. Um, but they are getting close. So, don’t think for tomorrow, just to make that clear. That looked like a pretty good practice. Yeah. Yeah, the guys uh guys had good jump today. It was uh good energy. Um, yeah, I thought they uh they came ready to go. So, really good. Sometimes when you don’t skate the day before, it takes a little while to get into it, but um guys got right into it today, so we were happy with it. Going through a bit of a rough stretch. Um from a coaching perspective, like do you just let Andy Kyoto kind of help him or any of the goalies kind of get through rough patches? I mean, how much do you weigh in on that? Like what’s the process of helping goalies uh get through parts of the season? Yeah, I mean it’s uh Andy is is the primary one who’s working with them every day. Um, you know, I think goalies are goalies are unique. It’s uh obviously that’s why it’s important to have uh somebody on staff there that’s that’s working with them on that day-to-day basis that’s you know developing uh some of the drills that they’re doing, you know, especially before practice u where they can work on some things maybe that are a little bit more specific to them. Um and so Andy’s does a great job with uh all of our guys. And so that that’s majority of the conversation and the planning and the work is is coming from him and uh and again I think he’s he’s done a great job with it. Is the psychology of that position different compared to Fords and do you mean there’s such a pass fail way of evaluating from the outside of how a goalie plays? Um do goies have to have a different psychology of their position or how they go about their business compared to other positions? Um I think there could be elements of that. You know, I think it’s I think even like each it’s just like every player, every person and every goalie. They’re all a little bit different, you know, and I I think like you know what they need for that side of the game? Um sometimes it is a little bit unique to them. You see these next two opponents is because of the way they’re playing be measuring sticks or would you rather think of it as them measuring themselves against you? No, I mean, no, I think they there is the both teams are playing that we’re going on this road trip to play are playing are playing really well. Um, I think it’s I think it’s a it’s a great opportunity for us. Um, you know, I like it’s a great opportunity for us too. Like there’s a lot that we liked about our last game there in Philly and so now it’s following that up and now it’s building off of that. Now it’s taking those elements that, you know, we felt strongly about in that game and taking them on a road. Um, you know, take it one game at a time. So, starting with Tampa, it’s a really good Tampa team. Dan, kind of a vague question, but when you hear teams talk about having balance up and down their lineup, like when when you hear something like that, what what do you want to see achieved or how can a team, you know, achieve balance up and down its lineup? I think it’s impact on the game. You know, I think when you look at up and down a lineup, I think every, you know, every line, every pair, like they’re going to they have different ways that they can really impact the game and help to change momentum. And I think, you know, I think when, you know, teams are really rolling, when we’re really rolling, you know, you’re seeing that that, you know, there’s contributions, um, you know, from from every line. And so, you know, I think it’s sometimes it is some of that secondary scoring and chipping in that way. Uh, but a lot of it ends up being, you know, uh, the guys that are, you know, when they’re out there, they’re finding a way within their game to be able to to swing the momentum our way. Um, you know, for Lizo’s line, for example, like, you know, I think they’ve done a great job. Um, you know, and there’s been different combinations on that line. Uh, but they’ve done a a great job in terms of, you know, just getting in on the for check and holding on to pucks and, you know, defending and tracking back and the way that they go about it, too. Like, they’re able to, you know, I think, you know, usually frustrate the opponent. They’re usually able to have us, you know, finish that shift in the offensive zone and the way they play the game, it it draws momentum for us. So, when you get scoring from them, it’s, you know, it’s it’s a bonus. Um, but you know, like that’s that’s an example I think of, you know, uh, you know, a line that’s really finding a way there to to make positive contributions and impact the game. Dan, you’ll have the top power play in the league, but you’re among the bottom in the league in terms of penalties drawn. Is there anything that you think is causing that? I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for you on that. Coach Ryan Shay has played in the top four all season long and he said that he’s felt his confidence growing with each passing game. just what have you really noticed from his play and uh how impressed have you been with the work that he’s put in on and off the ice? Yeah. No, it’s uh I mean he’s you know he earned that opportunity coming out of training camp and he’s continued to to earn the opportunity and so it’s a credit to him. You know I think he’s you know you can see him at his best when he’s you know he’s he’s closing time in space. Uh great defensive stick makes a good first pass. You know he joins there at the the right times. He’s able to get up in the play and help. Um, and so, you know, I think he’s he’s done a good job, you know, and it has been more minutes than, you know, he’s had in the past in this league. Um, but I think he’s done a good job of kind of, you know, um, not just taking that the the opportunity, but also building on it there, um, as we’ve gone through this, um, this part of the season. Was a career high for him by one second actually, but it still a lot compared to most of his career. Um, there’s more than just being a fighter there for him. Is that your observation? He’s capable of providing a lot more than just the physical play. There’s other areas of the game that he can be valuable in. Yeah, I mean he got the you know with him getting recalled like you know it’s conversations for you know with Kirk and his game he was playing really well. Um and so you know especially that little last little bit like it was uh you know down Wils like he he earned that opportunity because because of his five on five play. Um, and I thought he showed it the other night, too. Like, he was I thought he made some good plays coming out of the zone. Um, I thought he did a real good job there in the defensive zone, and he was his line, you know, they were getting some shifts starting there, too. And, um, and I think he would have had, you know, had there not been as much special teams in the game, too, like his minutes would have, you know, been even higher. And so, um, he did was he did a really he did a really good job coming in, um, just based off his recent play there in Wils and then he continued it there game the other night. As a general followup, I mean, I know you’re not specifically trying to draw penalties, but just what would you be what what does cause penalties to be to be drawn over the course of a game? What can you do? I think typically when you’re, you know, you’re when you’re holding on to pucks and you’re getting to the inside like um you’re putting yourself in a better position to probably, you know, force the opponent to to be reaching or holding or, you know, uh sticking fractions. And so I think that’s an area that, you know, I think, you know, the games where maybe we’ve drawn more, you know, I think you’ve seen um you’ve seen us probably in those areas a little bit more. Uh in terms of the total number for the season, I I don’t have a exact answer for you. Why?

Justin Brazeau, Sidney Crosby, and Dan Muse following practice on Wednesday, December 3.

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