Penguins notes: Penalty kill settling down after worst stretch of season

Through the first 50 games, the Pittsburgh Penguins hadn’t allowed as many as four opponent power-play goals over any six-game stretch all season.

So when Toronto, Carolina and New Jersey combined for four power-play goals over a recent three-game span, coach Mike Sullivan took notice.

“We went through a rough stretch,” Sullivan said Thursday after practice, “when our faceoff percentage was down, our failed clears or our successful-clear rates were down.”

Albeit in a small sample size, the Penguins feel as if they have righted the proverbial ship. They did not allow a power-play goal during weekend wins against the New York Rangers and Columbus.

“There’s just been a stretch where we kind of got away from our details like blocking shots or having the right stick positions or knowing when to be aggressive and when to hold back,” wing Zach Aston-Reese said. “It’s something that we sat down as a PK unit with (assistant coach Mike Vellucci) and talked about, and I think these last two games we have been a lot better.”

The Penguins’ penalty kill remains at No. 3 in the NHL at 85.8%. The unit also soon will welcome back one of its most important members: Center Teddy Blueger again practiced Thursday and is on track to return to the lineup soon after missing five-plus weeks because of a broken jaw.

Carter clause to trigger

Assuming Jeff Carter is in the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it will be his 50th game of the season. Reaching that marker will upgrade the 2023 fourth-round pick the Penguins sent to the Los Angeles Kings into a third-rounder, per the terms of April’s trade for Carter.

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.