{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/siTppSwc.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic speaks following his shutout in his return.", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/siTppSwc-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/siTppSwc.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/siTppSwc.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-PleLi0gz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 182, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 406701, "filesize": 5998844, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-TPyFHjSz.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 272, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 587491, "filesize": 8665501, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-j3UGax3n.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 724, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1376458, "filesize": 20302767, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-KwtrUhfG.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114190, "filesize": 1684311 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-hoWDbBur.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 362, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 557808, "filesize": 8227669, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/siTppSwc-TcGp53GP.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 544, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 907509, "filesize": 13385769, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Heading into the 2023-24 NHL season, the Pittsburgh Penguins needed every aspect of the organization to be improved if they planned of finding their way back to the postseason." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Among those aspects included better and smarter coaching from the Penguins bench bosses, and Mike Sullivan took it upon himself to improve this year." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Prior to the beginning of the season, Sullivan noted he needed to be an improved coach for the team and do what he can to help create more wins." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now, over a month into the season, Sullivan is looking to flex those muscles and make some of the proper changes." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Penguins have played in 17 games, and already we’ve seen Sullivan pull the cord on players, handing out healthy scratches to under performing skaters." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jeff Carter and P.O. Joseph are the most notable names to sit out some time for other options." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "For their game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Sullivan swapped a struggling Rickard Rakell for Radim Zohorna within the lineup." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It wasn’t a healthy scratch for Rakell, who is yet to score a goal, but a little nudge to see if something changes with different linemates." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "“We’re trying to move guys around based on performance and how certain guys are playing on a given night,” Sullivan said. “We’re trying to get more from other lines, so we started to move guys around a little bit.”" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Pushing Zohorna to the second line and Rakell to the third didn’t bring much as no one on either group recorded a point." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The two were promptly put back to their original lines against the Vegas Golden Knights." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sullivan stated he hopes that the small changes within the lineup may ‘spark something’ and he plans on being ‘proactive’ with those little adjustments." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "One of Sullivan’s biggest flaws last season was his tendency to sit around on his lineup for too long and wait on making changes." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It’ll be interesting to see what Sullivan decides to do with Rakell, especially if he continues this poor start to the year." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sullivan has given Rakell a few votes of confidence and is hopeful there will be an avalanche of production once he nabs his first goal." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Until then, however, what kind of move can wake up Rakell’s offense? His linemates of Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith have a visible chemistry and started the season red hot." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "They’ve cooled off a bit, but are still finding each other all over the ice, and Rakell hasn’t been able to feed off of that connection." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rakell has always played well on the first line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, but is it the right time to take Bryan Rust off of that spot?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rust is having a resurgent season with 16 points (9G-7A) in 17 games." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sullivan will likely give Rakell a different look somewhere in the lineup in the coming days in hopes that something wakes up." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His goal is to remain vigilant with his lineup and make sure the right players are giving the Penguins the best chance to win every game." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Players React to First Goals as Penguins" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Goalie Celebrates Win in Browns Jersey" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Penguins Defenseman Left Game With Lower-Body Injury" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Night of Firsts Pushes Penguins Over Golden Knights" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Jeff Carter Returns to Penguins Lineup" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube", "Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins" ] } } ] }

Mike Sullivan Wants To Be Proactive With Penguins Lineup Changes