Penguins prepare for apparent stretch without injured forward Jason Zucker
Among the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top-six forwards, Jason Zucker ranks sixth in points, fifth in goals, fifth in plus/minus and sixth in attempted-shot percentage metrics.
But his lofty spot in the lineup remained secure, in large part, because of the lofty stature he has held in the locker room since the Penguins traded for him 54 weeks ago. That is why Zucker’s injury could create such a sizable void.
“Losing a guy like ‘Zucks’ is a pretty big blow,” wing Zach Aston-Reese said Wednesday, a day after Zucker suffered a lower-body injury. “He’s a guy that just kind of leads by example. It’s crazy, he’s just (29) — but honestly just his presence, he feels like he’s such an older presence and gives a lot of guys confidence. So he will be missed greatly. He does a lot for the team.”
While injuries had decimated the Penguins defense corps over the first month of the season, the upper portion of their forward depth chart was left unscathed until Zucker tripped and tumbled into the boards with his left leg pinned behind most of his body midway through the third period of Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win at the Washington Capitals.
Zucker, who lied on the ice for several minutes and required assistance to retreat to the dressing room, was sent back to Pittsburgh the next morning even as the team stayed in Washington in preparation of Thursday’s rematch between the teams.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Zucker was to be “evaluated further” and added, “We don’t have any more information other than that.”
Here is the Zucker injury and it doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/95lS9Xn8Mi
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) February 24, 2021
Sullivan would not commit to Zucker’s timetable but all but assured he won’t play Thursday. Aston-Reese confirmed he took line rushes during Wednesday’s practice in Zucker’s usual spot as the left wing on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust.
That is how the Penguins finished Tuesday’s game, with Sam Lafferty bumping up onto the third line. Drew O’Connor, a healthy scratch Tuesday, is an obvious candidate to reclaim a lineup spot in Zucker’s absence.
However, Jared McCann’s return is imminent. Out since Feb. 6 because of a lower-body injury, McCann again practiced Wednesday — albeit in noncontact fashion.
“We will see what we get as far as what our injury status looks like, and we will make game-time decisions on guys,” Sullivan said when asked about projected line pairings.
“We believe we have the versatility throughout the lineup to be able to move people around to put a competitive lineup on the ice, and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
Aston-Reese has impressed in six games since his season debut after recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, making him a natural for a promotion to the second line. Aston-Reese scored during each of his first three games and added an assist in his fourth game. He is tied for second on the Penguins in plus-minus and has some of the best shot-attempt metrics on the team. The grouping of Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev formed an effective third line.
A long offseason of rehab and motivated commitment has left Zach Aston-Reese appearing noticeably trimmed down.
And yet he’s playing a “big” game.#Pens https://t.co/haWrxNLPxa
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 17, 2021
But Aston-Reese has played with Malkin (according to naturalstattrick.com, the duo has skated 204 minutes with each other).
“Playing with Malkin always is a little bit different,” Aston-Reese said. “He’s a skilled player and makes a lot of things happen, so maybe instead of dumping the puck in, you try to make a play.
“I’m hoping just not to grip the stick too tightly playing with those guys.”
Known for his speed and ability on the forecheck, Zucker was coveted enough by former general manager Jim Rutherford that the Penguins submitted a first-round pick and prospect Calen Addison to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for him.
Zucker has 10 goals and nine assists in 32 games with the Penguins, including four goals and three assists in 17 games this season.
“He’s a great guy who works hard and is really good in the locker room,” defenseman Cody Ceci said, “so we’re definitely going to miss him in the lineup for a little bit.”
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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