Penguins activate forward Zach Aston-Reese from long-term injured reserve
The Pittsburgh Penguins activated forward Zach Aston-Reese from long-term injured reserve.
Sidelined since undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in mid-August, Aston-Reese could make his season debut in Thursday’s road game against the New York Islanders.
In recent days, he has been skating on the left wing of the team’s third line along with his two typical linemates last season, Teddy Blueger at center and Brandon Tanev on right wing. Generally used as a fourth line in 2019-20, that trio routinely drew assignments against the opposition’s top line.
“They were a real continuous line defensively for us,” coach Mike Sullivan said via video conference. “We can play them in a lot of defensive situations. We can play them against anyone. They’re all a little bit different as far as what they bring to the lineup. Teddy is a real cerebral center iceman. He has good awareness defensively. He has an offensive aspect to his game. (Tanev) brings a lot of speed and a physical dimension to his game. And Zach is another smart player that has good awareness defensively. He’s another guy that can go to the net front and can play in the battle areas. He’s strong on the wall.
“They all bring something a little different that we think makes that line what it is. They were together almost entirely the whole (2019-20 season). They were a big part of the some of the success this team enjoyed along the way.”
Last season, Aston-Reese appeared in 57 games and scored 13 points (six goals, seven assists).
A left-handed shot, Aston-Reese, 26, is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $1 million. He is a pending restricted free agent.
Notes:
• Sullivan announced Casey DeSmith is scheduled to start in net. In five games this season, DeSmith has a 3-1-0 record along with a 2.85 goals-against average and an .882 save percentage.
• Sullivan declined to say if forward Evgeni Malkin was available for the game a day after Malkin was pulled from practice as a precaution for an eye irritation. Sullivan simply said the remainder of his lineup was a “game-time decision” when specifically asked about Malkin.
• Forward Jared McCann was placed on injured reserve. He suffered an undisclosed injury during Saturday’s 4-3 road loss to the Islanders. On Wednesday, Sullivan indicated McCann would be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis.
• Thursday’s game will be the second for the Penguins since the NHL instituted new protocols as a precaution against covid-19. One protocol has removed the glass behind the benches. During Saturday’s 4-3 road loss to the Islanders, the Penguins’ coaches had to walk down from the vacant stands and step over the barrier between the seats and bench because of the unique — i.e., obsolete — setup of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y.
Beyond that, Sullivan labeled that change as being insignificant, one of his preferences notwithstanding.
“I’m a little bit of a leaner,” Sullivan quipped. “So, I can’t lean on the glass any more. That was probably the biggest adjustment I had to make. But (with) no fans in the building, it’s not really any different than it would be with the glass. I know the league is trying to do their very best to adapt and adjust the protocols to keep everyone safe. We all are respectful of that process.”
• The Islanders are scheduled to start goaltender Semyon Varlamov. In eight games this season, he has a 5-2-1 record, a 1.88 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and a league-leading three shutouts.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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