Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returns to lineup

Forward Kasperi Kapanen returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for Tuesday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG Paints Arena.

He was a healthy scratch during Sunday’s 4-1 road loss to the rival Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

By any measure, Kapanen’s season has been underwhelming. Before Tuesday’s game, he had appeared in 77 games and scored only 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) while averaging 14 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time.

In contrast, he posted 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) while clocking an average of 15:32 of ice time over 40 games last season.

Entering Tuesday’s game, Kapanen had gone 12 games without a goal.

Despite that futility, Sullivan professed confidence Kapanen was capable of a greater contribution.

“I just think sometimes players go through ups and downs through the course of their career. They go through ups and downs through the course of their season,” Sullivan said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “What I will tell you is we believe (Kapanen) is a very capable player and has the ability to be a difference-maker for us. He’s shown that in some of his time here. We’re hopeful that’s what we’re going to get moving forward. (Kapanen) is a real good player. I know he cares a lot. I know it’s not from a lack of effort, (caring) or (trying) on his part. This guy is a good teammate, he’s a good player.

“We’re trying to find a way help him capture his best game. He has the capability of being a difference-maker for us. We’re hopeful that we can help him capture his best game.”

Kapanen opened Tuesday’s game on the Penguins’ third line with Jeff Carter at center and Jason Zucker on the left wing.

As for Sunday’s scratch, the indignity of that station was amplified by the presence of Kapanen’s father, former NHL forward Sami Kapanen, who trekked from Finland to watch the game.

“Those are the hardest decisions as a coach that you have to make,” Sullivan said to media in Philadelphia after Sunday’s game. “When we’ve got a healthy group of players, we have lineup decisions that are very difficult. These guys all want to play, and (Kapanen) is no different. Those are not easy decisions. But they’re part of what we sign up for.”

What to look for with the Lindsay Award

AP

Penguins forward Bryan Rust

Ballots for NHL awards voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) were distributed Monday. All votes must be filed by May 2 to be considered.

Members of the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) vote on one award, the Ted Lindsay Award which, as stated, goes to “most outstanding player.”

On Tuesday, Penguins forward Bryan Rust was asked what he considers when voting for that honor.

“Obviously, you look at the guys that are at the top of the league offensively and the top couple of goalies,” Rust said. “For me, I like to look at guys who play well or are hard to play against all over the ice. They also put up a bunch of points, but they don’t let in a lot of goals, either. They’re always playing in the offensive zone, they’re always a plus, kind of things like that.”

PHWA members vote on the Hart Memorial Trophy, the league’s MVP award. The criteria for that honor is slightly different as it is stated to recognize “the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team.”