NEWARK, N.J. — The Prudential Center has often presented an interesting crossroads in Drew O’Connor’s hockey journey.
As a kid, he frequently attended Devils games, where he rooted for goaltender Martin Brodeur and, as he got older, Zach Parise. But the moment that stands out from the rest came in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Final, when Adam Henrique scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Final with O’Connor in attendance.
“The place was going crazy,” O’Connor said. “That was awesome.”
At the time, O’Connor was just a 14-year-old kid. Coach Mike Sullivan was an assistant coach of those Rangers. And Jeff Carter scored the series-winning goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to end the season for O’Connor’s Devils.
Later, O’Connor skated in a state championship high school hockey game at the Prudential Center. That turned out to be a pivotal moment in another way, as he decided just after the game to quit his high school team and explore an unchartered path to the NHL.
On Sunday night, the 23-year-old Chatham, New Jersey native made another memory in the Prudential Center, when he played an NHL game in his home state for the first time.
“I have a lot of family and [friends] there,” O’Connor said on Saturday. “It should be a fun game. I’m looking forward to it.”
O’Connor, a Dartmouth product, initially joined the Penguins as one of college hockey’s most-coveted free agents. The Penguins were intrigued by his unique mix of size, speed and scoring touch. However, after a slow start in 10 games last year, he finished his first professional season in Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton.
This offseason, he cut all gluten and dairy out of his diet and came into training camp in great shape. The difference has been noticeable on the ice. He’s split time between the NHL and AHL. In 18 games with the Penguins, he’s made a positive impression, tallying three goals and two assists to go along with a dependable defensive game in a bottom-six role.
“He had a real strong training camp and he's continued to progress throughout the course of this early part of the season,” Sullivan said. “He's improved in so many aspects of his whole overall game. It starts with his mindset and his confidence level coming into this year. I think it’s at a different level than it was a year ago.”
COVID concerns put player participation in the Olympics on thin ice
Shortly before puck drop on Sunday, the NHL and NHL Players Association released a joint statement to address a number of issues related to rising COVID-19 cases throughout North America and throughout the league.
For now, the NHL will continue to press on. Instead of pausing the league as a whole, which was considered, the decision to temporarily shut down teams will be made on a “case-by-case basis.”
However, due to concerns about cross-border travel, all games scheduled between U.S.-based teams and Canadian-based teams from Monday, Dec. 20 through Dec. 23 will be rescheduled. That will not directly impact the Penguins — at least not yet. But that could change after Christmas. On Dec. 27, the Penguins are slated to play the Boston Bruins, who are currently on pause. The Penguins are then scheduled to play in Toronto and Ontario.
The final piece of the press release appears to put Olympic participation on thin ice. Due to 27 games already postponed as of Saturday and at least 12 more set to be rescheduled through Dec. 23, the NHL and NHLPA are “actively discussing” the matter of NHL Player participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, according to the release. A final determination is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Sullivan, who has been named head coach of the U.S. men’s hockey team, said he is not actively involved in those discussions, saying that’s between the league and the NHLPA. The coach said he continues to conduct regular planning meetings virtually with the GM of the 2022 U.S. men’s hockey team Bill Guerin, assistant GM Chris Drury and assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey John Vanbiesbrouck.
“We're going to continue to go through that process until someone tells us otherwise, that we're not going to participate,” Sullivan said. “It really doesn't change anything that we do. I'm hopeful that we have the opportunity to participate, because I think it's just such a great honor. It's such an unbelievable experience for everyone involved.”
Boyle out again, Lafferty in
Brian Boyle’s nagging lower-body injury will force the veteran center to miss his second consecutive game. Sullivan said that the 6-6, 245-poud forward’s status has not changed and he remains day-to-day.
Boyle dealt with a lower-body injury at the end of last month. On Dec. 10, he returned to the lineup for the first time since Nov. 27. He played in three consecutive games, including Tuesday’s win over Montreal when he recorded his third goal of the season. However, he’s still working through injury issues.
In his absence, Sam Lafferty centered the fourth line for the second consecutive game, skating between Dominik Simon and O’Connor.
Mike DeFabo: mdefabo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MikeDeFabo.
First Published: December 19, 2021, 11:41 p.m.
