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Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan shouts out instructions for the next drill earlier this year at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
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Penguins playing meaningful games until the final day

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Penguins playing meaningful games until the final day

A year ago, the Penguins had two meaningless games at the end of the regular season before they got their playoff run underway. It was a chance for their regulars to get some rest at the end of a long season.

That wasn’t the case this time around, as the Penguins went into their regular-season finale Friday night against Ottawa needing a win to secure home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs next week.

While resting some superstars that logged heavy minutes over the past five months certainly has its benefits, there also might be something to be said for playing competitive games all the way through. Coach Mike Sullivan said he didn’t have a preference.

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“I really haven’t given it much thought, to be honest with you,” Sullivan said before the home game against the Senators. “We’re just trying to react the right way to the situation that’s in front of us. Last year was a little bit different. This year, we were able to solidify a playoff spot, which was our first priority. Now we’re trying to put our team in the best possible position moving forward. There’s still a lot to play for, from our standpoint.”

Sidney Crosby celebrates his goal against Ottawa on Friday.
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And no matter what happened Friday, the Penguins won’t know their first-round opponent until late Saturday night. Depending on the outcome of games around the league, it could be Columbus, New Jersey, Philadelphia or even Washington.

Sullivan said in that regard, too, he didn’t have much of an opinion as to who the Penguins opponent is.

“I think for us we’re just trying to become the best team that we can become going into the playoffs and put ourselves in the best possible position going into the playoffs,” he said.

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He will, though, be watching the games Saturday to see how things play out.

“I’m sure we’ll watch, because regardless of what happens [Friday] with our game, we still don’t know who our opponent’s going to be,” Sullivan said. “There’s still a lot of scenarios that are out there. I’m sure everybody will be watching.”

DeSmith gets the nod

Despite the relatively high stakes of the game Friday, Sullivan opted to go with Casey DeSmith in goal over Matt Murray. Murray has started the team’s past seven games, and that, combined with him playing Thursday night in Columbus, led Sullivan to go with his backup.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby, behind Evgeni Malkin, celebrates his goal in the second period Friday night against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena.
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Murray has started both legs of a back-to-backs twice this season, including last weekend against Montreal and Washington, but lost on the second night both times.

Sullivan said the decision, in a game with home ice on the line, is effectively a vote of confidence in DeSmith, who is 5-4-1 with a 2.63 goals against average and .913 save percentage this season.

“We believe in him,” Sullivan said. “We know he’s a good goalie, we know he can help us win. He’s had some real good starts for us and, [with] the circumstances, being a back-to-back game and the fact that Matt has had [seven] starts in a row, I think it’s the right decision. I believe Casey’s a guy that can help us win.”

Penguins ironmen

Four players on the Penguins roster — Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel and Olli Maatta — played in all 82 games this season.

This is the eighth consecutive season Kessel has played in every game for his team, but it’s the first time for the other three, including Crosby.

“I think it’s an indication of the fitness level,” Sullivan said. “These guys really take care of themselves. They pride themselves on making sure they control everything they can to be in the best possible condition to endure the rigors of the schedule. This is a hard league. It can be a grind. These guys are extremely fit, they take care of themselves, and I think that’s an indication of it.”

Brassard making progress

Derick Brassard missed his fifth consecutive game with a lower-body injury, but seems to be moving toward a return. Sullivan said Brassard skated on his own Friday morning for the first time since his injury March 27 in Detroit.

Sullivan said it is “certainly a big step” for Brassard.

Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG.

First Published: April 6, 2018, 11:09 p.m.

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