The return of Jeff Petry to the lineup will help raise the overall performance of the Pittsburgh Penguins defense.

The reconstructed Pittsburgh Penguins defense has fallen short of expectations this season. Most recently, injuries have prevented them from building momentum as a unit and created uncertainty around the group. 

Fortunately, the Penguins could get one of their most important pieces back tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. According to Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, Jeff Petry is a game-time decision after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

While Petry hasn't lived up to expectations in his first season with the Penguins, he does bring a level of consistency to the defense corps that doesn't exist without him. 

The Penguins' record with Petry in the lineup is 28-17-7 and 8-10-3 without him. The Penguins are a better team with Petry in the lineup.

His impact comes on the offensive side of the puck. While his point production has taken a hit this season, his ability to find the forwards in stride in the neutral zone is something few defensemen on the Penguins can do, and it simplifies the game for the team's most talented players. 

Petry's presence also takes the pressure off of Kris Letang. Letang's season average for ice time is 24:41, but since Petry's injury, Letang has averaged 27:45 and has played more in all three phases. Petry's return may not bump Letang off the penalty kill, but his presence will allow the Penguins to deploy Letang to his normal usage.

The Penguins are still without Marcus Pettersson, Jan Rutta, and Dmitry Kulikov, but Petry's return will boost the blue line.

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