Should Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Josh Archibald and Jason Zucker remain sidelined due to undisclosed injuries for Tuesday’s home game against the New York Rangers, forward Drew O’Connor will likely be in the lineup, presumably on the fourth line and even on the penalty kill.

Recalled on Wednesday from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL), O’Connor has been a healthy scratch the past two games. His only NHL action this season came in the form of three games and no points in early November.

Even having spent the past handful of days on the NHL roster, he remains the AHL Penguins’ leading scorer with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 20 games this season.

Much of that production comes with the benefit of being on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top line and top power-play, however. Those roles are typically filled by the likes of forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with the NHL club.

How can he translate the success he enjoys in Northeast Pennsylvania to the southwestern corner of the commonwealth?

“My role there is definitely different than it would be here,” O’Connor said. “But I don’t think the way I play would change that much. I play in all situations there, penalty kill, power play, defensive zone faceoffs, things like that (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). It can kind of translate naturally. Maybe not as much (offense with Pittsburgh) but you still try to make plays, you still try to score goals. It’s hockey. I don’t think the way I would approach the game would change too much. It’s just being really focused on the details, especially on the penalty kill. Faceoffs, things like that, just be ready for anything.”

O’Connor’s three-game cup of coffee in November was largely unremarkable. He logged 8:32 of ice time and was nine for 18 (50%) on faceoffs.

“I thought it went OK,” O’Connor said. “I could have played a bit better in some areas. Whenever you come up and have that chance, you have to be ready to take advantage of it. Any opportunity that I get now, I just have to be really dialed in. Make sure whatever situation I’m out there in, I’m ready for and just try to make the most of it.”

Management expectations of what O’Connor can offer the NHL club have been communicated to the player.

“Drew is a very capable guy,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a real good skater, he has good size, he has good reach. He’s a guy that I think can help us with momentum, can establish a forecheck, can be sound defensively, can help us on the penalty kill. Those are areas that we’ve talked to Drew about in trying to define expectations for him so that he understands how he has to play and what his contribution will be to help the Penguins win. Those are the things that I think Drew can bring to our team. He has some scoring touch so when he gets in and around the net, he has shown the ability to finish.

“He’s played really well (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) over the last stretch of games here. That’s one of the reasons why he got the call-up. But really, that’s what we’re looking for when he goes in the lineup for us is just playing that straight ahead game, that smart game, that reliable game that helps us get momentum, to create momentum, that’s hard to play against but is conscientious. That’s an important aspect of the game that I think he needs to bring for us.”

Should Archibald remain sidelined, O’Connor vows to make the most of the potential opportunity he could be presented with.

“Hopefully, he’s healthy and he can play,” O’Connor said. “But, obviously, whenever an opportunity comes about, you try to be ready for it.”

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