The Penguins’ 3-2 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena was a thrilling affair.

It required a comeback in the third period, and it was a perfect way to punctuate a banner night for captain Sidney Crosby’s 1,000th career regular-season game.

But it largely did not involve Crosby’s right winger. At least during the third period.

Kasperi Kapanen was bumped to the fourth line during the first period and played sparingly during the third period.

“Sparingly” might be a charitable way of labeling the 19 seconds of ice time Kapanen recorded on his single shift during the final period.

After the game, coach Mike Sullivan was terse when explaining why Kapanen was demoted and essentially benched.

“I was trying to find guys that were bringing it tonight, that were competing hard and were going to give us the best chance to win,” Sullivan said via video conference. “And some nights, those things are going to happen. I didn’t think (Kapanen) had his game going tonight. And so I was trying to find guys that were going to give us an opportunity to win.”

Less than 48 hours later, Kapanen was back on the top line with Crosby and Jake Guentzel on the left wing during practice at Cranberry.

Sullivan was asked what discussions he had with Kapanen since Saturday and what more he would like to to see from the skilled winger.

The coach largely declined to answer the question but was optimistic Kapanen has moved past what led to his limited deployment Saturday.

“(Kapanen) and I had a conversation, and I’d rather that stay between (Kapanen) and I,” Sullivan said. “But I think we’re very much on the same page on what the expectations are, and we’ll move forward from there. But him and I had a conversation (Monday).”

In 13 games this season, Kapanen has seven points (two goals, five assists) but has one assist in his past five games.

Riikola closer to return

Defenseman Juuso Riikola skated in practice in a full-contact capacity. It was the first time he has done that since suffering an undisclosed injury Jan. 19. The ailment has sidelined Riikola for the past 12 games and limited him to two games and no points this season.

On Monday, he skated on a fourth pairing with longtime partner Chad Ruhwedel.

Sullivan indicated Riikola’s participation in Monday’s practice allowed him to move one step closer to being eligible to play.

Additionally, injured forwards Jared McCann, Evan Rodrigues and Brian Dumoulin skated in the morning before the taxi squad took the ice.

Sullivan indicated McCann will travel with the team for its upcoming four-game road trip to Washington and Long Island. Rodrigues and Dumoulin will remain in Western Pennsylvania and skate with skills coach Ty Hennes.

McCann is on injured reserve. Dumoulin, Riikola and Rodrigues are on long-term injured reserve.

Roster moves

The Penguins made a series of roster moves Monday evening.

Defenseman Yannick Weber was assigned from the NHL roster to the taxi squad. Signed to a one-year two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000 on Jan. 27 when injuries waylaid the blue line, Weber, 32, has appeared in two games this season and has no points.

Defenseman Kevin Czuczman has been assigned from the taxi squad to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League while goaltender goaltender Alex D’Orio has been assigned from the taxi squad to Wheeling of the ECHL.

Following these moves, the Penguins’ taxi squad now includes forwards Jordy Bellerive, Josh Currie, goaltender Emil Larmi and Weber.

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