Penguins defensemen Mike Matheson and Kris Letang find chemistry

Defenseman Mike Matheson didn’t just return to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup Friday after a five-game respite for an undisclosed injury.

He also got a promotion.

For most of Friday’s 5-2 home win against the Vegas Golden Knights, Matheson was teamed with Kris Letang on the Penguins’ top pairing.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the duo logged 17 minutes, 10 seconds of five-on-five ice time together, and they were slightly in the red with regards to shot attempts for/against (22-23).

Matheson, who typically operates on the third pairing, scored the opening goal of the contest after Letang’s stretch pass through the neutral zone created the sequence leading to the score.

For the best part of half a decade, Letang’s typical partner has been the defensively reliable Brian Dumoulin. An illness not related to covid-19 sidelined Dumoulin on Friday and prompted the union of Letang and Matheson.

If Saturday’s practice in Cranberry is any indicator, Letang and Matheson might be deployed together for Sunday’s home contest against the Carolina Hurricanes.

As Dumoulin was mixed into intermittently with the second pairing of John Marino and Marcus Pettersson, Letang and Matheson remained intact Saturday.

Nothing is written in stone, but Letang gave a glowing assessment of the pairing with Matheson.

“Obviously, whoever I’m playing with, I’m in good hands, whether it’s (Dumoulin) or (Matheson),” Letang said. “(Matheson), he’s a special player. He’s probably one of the most skilled players that we have on our team with his skating ability, his shot, just his vision, everything. He’s the total package. It was fun to play with him, he was on his toes. He was coming back from an injury so you could see he was really excited to get going. It was fun. We complement each other really well. We know what we’re doing defensively and with retrieving pucks and supporting each other.”

Unlike Dumoulin, Matheson isn’t renowned for his defensive attributes. Letang suggested little adjustment is required in playing with a considerably different partner.

“I know (Matheson is) going to be in the rush,” Letang said. “Maybe sometimes, I’ll stay back. That’s probably the only thing that’s going to change. He’s such a great skater that he can join the rush at any moment. Maybe sometimes you have to read that he’s going to be ahead. With (Dumoulin), I’m mostly in the rush. But nothing changes. I play the same way. Whether its (Dumoulin) or (Matheson), it’s the same system. We always try to play as a unit of five out there, not only the two (defensemen) together.”

As for Dumoulin, coach Mike Sullivan indicated Dumoulin still was feeling the aftereffects of his illness but suggested he will be “fine” for Sunday’s game.

O’Connor signs extension

AP

In 22 NHL games this season, Penguins forward O’Connor has five points (three goals, two assists).

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed rookie forward Drew O’Connor to a one-year contract extension worth $750,000.

Currently assigned to Wilkes/Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, the 23-year-old O’Connor was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

Capable of playing either center or wing, O’Connor is in the midst of his second professional season. Appearing in 22 NHL games this season, O’Connor has five points (three goals, two assists) while averaging 10 minutes, 17 seconds of ice time. Throughout January and February, O’Connor was sidelined for 15 games because of a reported collapsed lung.

With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, O’Connor has played in 13 games and scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists).

An undrafted free agent signing out of Dartmouth in March of 2020, O’Connor is in the final year of an entry-level contract that carries a salary cap hit of $925,000.

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