Jake Guentzel is the second Penguins player over the past week to go on the NHL’s COVID protocol list after he was confirmed positive for the virus Sunday.
Coach Mike Sullivan said the first-line winger will continue to be monitored by the team’s medical staff and will follow the protocols set forth by the league.
Guentzel has been vaccinated, so this is considered a breakthrough case.
“I think this is the reality of pro sports right now. Until the world gets a handle on this pandemic, we’re all trying to manage through it,” Sullivan said. “I’m not sure there’s a whole lot we can do about it other than control what we can and react the right way. And that’s the conversation we’ve had with our players.”
The Penguins announced the news before their 5-1 preseason win over the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena. Guentzel on Sunday was supposed to play for the first time this preseason. Danton Heinen filled his spot on the top line.
“COVID hasn’t gone away,” Kasperi Kapanen said. “[Protocols aren’t] as strict this season. But it’s just unfortunate that Jake got it and we’re doing everything we can to stay safe. We’ve got the masks on and we’ve got a great medical staff.”
On Sept. 27, Zach Aston-Reese became the first Penguins player since the pandemic first impacted the NHL in March 2019 to be confirmed as positive for COVID during the season. The winger remains sidelined without a timetable for a return.
Sullivan did not say if the two confirmed COVID cases are linked or isolated.
“We’re going to do everything within our power to try to mitigate the risk,” Sullivan said. “We’re already in the process of meeting with our team doctors and we’re talking about re-implementing some of the mitigation strategies that we utilized last season. I thought our players did a terrific job with their diligence.”
For example, Sullivan said that “until we get on the other side of it,” the Penguins will test players, coaches and staff members daily, as was required by NHL protocol last season. They could also reinstate some social distancing practices.
“Hopefully, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not going to be something that drags out all season,” Sullivan said. “If we can get ahead of it now, maybe we can stop this and can go back to some semblance of normalcy.”
Their regular season opener is Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay, the defending champs.
Opportunity for Heinen
The Penguins already were to be without star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who are working their way back from offseason surgeries. And now they could be without Guentzel, who among Penguins trails only Crosby in points since the start of the 2018-19 season, when the puck drops on the season.
Guentzel, who turns 27 on Wednesday, had 83 goals and 176 points in 177 games the last three seasons. The left winger has scored in bunches with a few different centers, not just Crosby. He’s become a regular on the top power play, too.
If his absence indeed stretches into the season, Heinen will get an opportunity to show the Penguins what he can do in an elevated role. Heinen, who once notched 47 points with the Boston Bruins, played with Jeff Carter and Bryan Rust at even strength on Sunday. He also took Guentzel’s spot on the top power play.
In the second period, he potted a rebound for his first goal with the Penguins. He also picked up a pair of assists in the first, on goals by Carter and Kapanen.
“I thought he was pretty good. … I think his offensive instincts have been on display here this whole camp. He was good in the intrasquad games,” Sullivan said. “I thought [Sunday] was his best exhibition game and I think when he plays with our [top] offensive players I think his offensive instincts are more evident.”
Second line ‘meshing well’
Evan Rodrigues made a case to remain in the middle of the second line with a solid performance alongside Jason Zucker and Kapanen. He had a plus-2 rating and made a nice cross-ice pass to set up Kapanen’s second goal of the afternoon.
“He’s been good all camp,” Kapanen said. “Obviously, that pass was a really good pass. He’s a talented player. I also think Zuck played pretty well there with us. We were meshing well, especially at the end there. So it was a solid game for us.”
Kapanen is one busy man
Kapanen is one of two Penguins to suit up for all three preseason games so far. The other is Dominik Simon, who was only in Sunday’s lineup because of Guentzel’s illness. Sullivan was asked this weekend why he is keeping Kapanen so busy.
“We just think Kappy benefits from the workload and we really like the track that he’s on right now,” he said. “He’s getting in better and better shape and we think he benefits from the workload. … That’s part of the reason we’ve done it.”
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.
First Published: October 3, 2021, 3:30 p.m.
Updated: October 3, 2021, 3:32 p.m.
