Justin Schultz got his name on the scoresheet for the first time in a while Saturday during a 5-2 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

The tripping minor he took against Sabres forward Victor Olofsson at 8:24 of the second period was the first penalty he had taken all season.

As far as points go, that’s remains something of a futile endeavor for the defenseman who put up a career-best 51 points as recently as three seasons ago.

Schultz’s last point was a goal in a 3-2 road win against the New York Rangers on Nov. 12.

Since that time, he’s gone 20 consecutive games without a point. That streak does not include the 16 games he missed throughout December and January due to a knee injury.

For the season, injuries have limited him to 38 games and eight assists (two goals, six assists).

That presumably would be great a cause of consternation for a player who has carved out a lengthy existence as an NHLer based on his offensive acumen.

“You’re aware of it, but I’m not too worried about it,” Schultz said last week. “The team is doing fine putting the puck in the back of the net. I feel like I’m not playing bad at all. Sometimes, you don’t get those points. But as long as the team is winning, everything is good. Hopefully, I will be able to produce a little bit more offensively. Just trying to play solid defensively and I’ll get my chances.”

Schultz has had plenty of opportunities to score. During Thursday’s 4-0 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Schultz ripped a hard wrister from the right circle through traffic which goaltender Frederik Andersen kicked out.

(Video courtesy NHL)

And just because he hasn’t recorded a point, that doesn’t mean he’s not involved in creating offense. During a 5-2 home win against the Maple Leafs, Schultz’s pass to defensive partner Marcus Pettersson allowed Pettersson to deal a pass to rookie forward Sam Lafferty, who had his wrist shot tipped into the net by another rookie forward, Anthony Angello, for his first career goal.

(Video courtesy NHL)

Later in that contest, while working with the second power-play unit, Schultz backhanded a pass from the right point to forward Bryan Rust on the half-wall. Rust then fed a cross-ice pass to forward Sidney Crosby, whose cross-crease pass was buried by forward Jason Zucker.

(Video courtesy NHL)

“A lot of third assists,” Schultz said with a giggle.

“He hasn’t been putting up the points that we’re used to seeing over the years,” general manager Jim Rutherford said. “But that doesn’t mean that in some way, he’s not involved in goals being scored. He’s getting to the point where he’s more of the Justin Schultz that we’ve seen.”

Even as he faces pending unrestricted free agency and the prospect of a potentially lucrative contract as a right-handed shot from the blue line — always a precious commodity in the NHL — Schultz claims his stagnant production isn’t weighing on his mind.

“Maybe when I was younger, I would (worry),” Schultz said. “But as you get older, you worry about your overall game, playing solid defensively and moving the pucks up to our forwards. We’ve got a ton of skill up front on this team. They do a great job for us. As long as I can get good breakouts, have good defensive breakouts and join when I can, I’ll be fine.”

His play has received an endorsement from management.

“He’s noticeable,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s helping us on the breakouts. He’s been real good on the offensive blue line. We’ve used him on the power play in certain situations. So we think his game is really coming.”

“At least I’m getting some chances and creating some stuff offensively,” Schultz said. “Obviously, you’d like to do more. That stuff’s going to come. I’m not too worried about that right now.”

Notes: Forwards Patrick Marleau, Evan Rodriguez and Conor Sheary, acquired in trades on Monday, joined the Penguins for practice in El Segundo, Calif., on Tuesday. Sheary skated on the first line, while Marleau and Rodriguez worked on the third line. … Injured defensemen Brian Dumoulin (left ankle), John Marino (face) and Nick Bjugstad (core muscle) participated in practice in a non-contact fashion. … The Penguins called up Sam Lafferty from Wilkes-Barre of the AHL on an emergency basis. With Jared McCann missing practice Tuesday, the Penguins were down to 11 healthy forwards.

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