CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ power play has been ineffective since a hot streak in the first couple of games tallied four man-advantage markers.

The Penguins were a dangerous 4-for-8 in the first two games, not coincidentally, wins. They are 0-for-16 since. And not coincidentally, they’re 1-3-1 in that time.

Penguins lines: projected lineup and starting goalie →

The team stayed in Chicago for a couple of extra days, Wednesday being an off day, and practiced Thursday at the Chicago Blackhawks practice rink in the shadow of the United Center.

Coach Dan Muse wasted little time at practice, getting to the power play work early and spending a considerable amount of time — perhaps more than 30 minutes — of the 50-minute practice.

The units got a small swap, though not without merit.

PP1 remained largely the same, with Erik Karlsson, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell, but adding Ben Kindel.

PP2’s flip was Muse adding Bryan Rust to the group with Kris Letang, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Andrei Chinakhov.

“(We just have to) execute. You know, I think we’re going to get different kills. Some teams are going to pressure. Some teams are going to sit back a little bit more. Whatever we play against, we have to work them, and we have to make sure we execute a little better,” said Crosby.

Charitably, power play has been messy but they have thus far not been victimized by a spate of shorthanded goals, unlike last year.

Penalty Kill

In times of special teams struggle, the Penguins’ penalty killing unit has been consistently among the league leaders during Muse’s tenure.

While Penguins center Blake Lizotte has been a big piece of that success, he also made quite hard for his teammate’s power play. Of course, on the mock PK drills, Lizotte is good, but does he give the power play any tips or advice?

“Only if they ask … They’ve been doing it for a while,” Lizotte said with a laugh.

Penguiuns Lines

Muse had one more wrinkle for practice as he made another line change with Nick Robertson. Despite the pesky fourth line of Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar and Robertson registering a team high 10:18 of 5v5 ice time Tuesday, Muse gave the zippy Robertson a bump up in the order.

“If we do that,” Muse cautioned in good humor after practice.

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov-Tommy Novak-Evgeni Malkin

Andrei Kuzmenko-Ben Kindel-Nick Robertson

Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Elmer Soderblom

Defense

Declan Carlile-Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard-Kaeden Korczak

Spencer Stastney-Kris Letang

Goalies: Arturs Silovs, Sergei Murashov

Yes, if they do that, Robertson will try to jump start the third line with Ben Kindel, which has otherwise been silent since Hendrix Lapierre, Ville Koivunen, and Filip Hallander tortured the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 1.

Thursday, Muse put Kindel and Robertson together with Kuzmenko.

And what might cause a celebration among parts of the Penguins fanbase, Elmer Soderblom was in the regular rotation with Lizotte and Dewar on the fourth line.

“You’ve seen (Soderblom) in that spot before, and so I thought they looked good again today,” Muse said. “They looked good today at practice, but they have been together before. So it’s also, over time too, you kind of build up understanding of different options that are out there, and whenever those groups have had game experience before, you’re not really guessing as much as you’re going off of a past history.”

It seemed a round about way, but it was Muse saying he knows what to expect from Soderblom on that line and that’s why he made the change.

Soderblom has played in just two games this season, though both were connected Penguins wins (Philadelphia, Dallas).

Tags:Ben Kindel Blake Lizotte Bryan Rust Elmer Soderblom Erik Karlsson Evgeni Malkin Kris Letang Penguins lines Penguins Practice Rickard Rakell Sidney Crosby

Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins