Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returns to lineup, opens on 4th line

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returned to the lineup for Thursday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.

Activated from injured reserve prior to the game, Kapanen opened the contest on the fourth line with Mark Jankowski at center and Colton Sceviour on the left wing.

Kapanen was sidelined since suffering a suspected left foot injury March 24.

Before Thursday, Kapanen appeared in 30 games this season and had 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists).

“Once I come back, I just want to kind of start where I left off,” Kapanen said Wednesday via video conference. “I feel like I was playing my game, and I was good.”

Tanev resumes skating

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan indicated forward Brandon Tanev has resumed skating on his own for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury April 3.

Currently on long-term injured reserve, Tanev has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 32 games this season. He is not expected to return to the lineup until after the conclusion of the regular season.

Rodrigues remains on right wing

Forward Evan Rodrigues opened Thursday’s contest on the right wing of the third line along with Teddy Blueger at center and Zach Aston-Reese on the left wing for the fifth consecutive game.

That role typically is occupied by Tanev.

“(Rodrigues is) a different player than (Tanev),” Sullivan said. “(Tanev) brings a ton of speed and energy and edge and energy. (Rodrigues) is a little bit more cerebral. But having said that, both of those guys have been effective with Teddy and Zach (Aston-Reese). It just gives us different looks depending on who’s available for a lineup on a given night. But we like both of the looks whether we have (Tanev) there with Teddy and Zach or we have (Rodrigues) there.

“We play (Rodrigues) all over the lineup in all different situations. He has the ability to play center or he can play the wing. He’s a right-handed shot that can take faceoffs. So when he’s out there with Teddy, for example, he can take the draws on the right side, Teddy can take the draws on the left side. He’s a good playmaker.

Angelo to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

The Penguins assigned rookie forward Anthony Angello to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

Partly due to an undisclosed injury, Angello has not played since April 3. In 19 NHL games this season, Angello has four points (two goals, two assists).

OHL cancels season

On Tuesday, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), which includes the Erie Otters officially canceled its 2020-21 season because of the pandemic.

After canceling the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign in March 2020, the league announced a series of delays since the fall in hopes of orchestrating some semblance of a season for 2020-21 before ultimately canceling Tuesday.

Penguins forward Jeff Carter, a former captain of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds franchise, expressed disappointment over the league’s decision, even if it seemed inevitable.

“That’s tough,” Carter said. “You feel for those kids that prepared to go up and play every year. Especially the draft-age kids. You lose a full year of showing (NHL scouts) what you can do to hopefully potentially make the next step. You’ve got to feel for the kids. Hopefully, they figure something out for them.”

Scratches

The Penguins scratched forwards Frederick Gaudreau, Sam Lafferty, Radim Zohorna as well as defensemen Mark Friedman and Chad Ruhwedel for Thursday’s game.