Penguins Make Lineup Adjustment Out of Break
As the Pittsburgh Penguins return to game action, a small change was made in the lineup.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have returned to the ice after the holiday break and are getting ready for a tough divisional battle against the New York Islanders.
Upon their return though, the Penguins have made a slight change to their lineup.
Drew O’Connor was bumped up to the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith while Valtteri Puustinen was place on the third.
It was a small move, but one that could be utilized to wake up the production of a few players.
Malkin has been producing over the last month or so, but not at the level that is expected and has been pretty inconsistent in the goals department.
In his last 15 games, Malkin has recorded nine total points with only two of them being goals.
Smith has also been locked in a slump for the better part of almost two months with two goals in the last 22 games; he has a total seven point in that same time frame.
Puustinen has been earning a regular role on the Penguins roster but is still searching for his first goal in the NHL; in seven games he’s yet to score a goal with four assists.
O’Connor isn’t known as a great offensive producer, but played on the second line before and has a level of familiarity.
The Penguins need each of the names mentioned to really find a footing and produce at a new level, and in the case of Malkin and Smith, get back to what made them so lethal in the beginning of the season.
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