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Bryan Rust and Kris Letang reveal how the Penguins must adjust without Erik Karlsson
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Now that Erik Karlsson is going to be out for at least two weeks, Bryan Rust and Kris Letang spoke about what the team must do to succeed in his absence.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed experienced defenseman Erik Karlsson on the injured reserve list following a lower-body injury, and he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
In his third year with the Steel City squad, Karlsson has continued to ride the success wave under first-year head coach Dan Muse at the helm.
What Erik Karlsson has done in his first two seasons in Pittsburgh
Karlsson has scored 56 and 53 points in his first two full years in Pittsburgh, but was poised to break 60 in the current campaign. His Winter Games future at the Milano-Cortina Olympics remains uncertain.
Karlsson will return with Team Sweden again if healthy, where he dazzled in last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.
Without Karlsson in their lineup, Pittsburgh has leaders in Bryan Rust and Kris Letang that they can count on. They've talked about what needs to be done in order for the team to have success without their best defensive player.
"Obviously, he's a unique player. You can't replace a guy like that. So, you have to play your game, and we have to play solid. Nothing's changed for everybody. Everybody has their role and their job and they have to do it the best they can."
- Kris Letang
- Kris Letang
"By committee. He plays so many big, important minutes for us. Obviously, all special teams, all situations. He's a guy that I think everybody's going to have to kind of step up."
- Bryan Rust
- Bryan Rust
Why the Penguins are defying preseason expectations
Although chatter leading up to the preseason placed the Penguins near the cellar of the Eastern Conference, they have been one of the bright spots of this season thus far.
With a record of 21-14-9, they're currently vying for a spot as one of the two wild card entries from the East, along with Buffalo, Washington, Boston, Toronto, and Florida.
The week includes three home games: Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Thursday's Keystone State battle with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Saturday's match against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
All three games will be extremely important while the team readjusts to life without Karlsson and battles to maintain its spot in the standings.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
New update emerges on Bryan Rust at Penguins practice today
New update emerges on Bryan Rust at Penguins practice today
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 13 | 53 ANSWERS Bryan Rust and Kris Letang reveal how the Penguins must adjust without Erik Karlsson Will the Penguins win more games than they'll lose without Erik Karlsson? | ||
| Yes | 29 | 54.7 % |
| No | 24 | 45.3 % |
| List of polls | ||