Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph returns to lineup
Share this post:
Playing the Montreal Canadiens will always be special to P.O Joseph.
As a native of Laval, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal, the novelty of competing against the team he grew up rooting for will always be present for him.
But for the moment, just playing is a big enough novelty to sate the Pittsburgh Penguins rookie defenseman.
“It’s a team that I grew up watching,” Joseph said. “It’s a team that I grew up fantasizing (about). But I’m just happy to be in the lineup and help.”
Joseph was back in lineup Tuesday for a home contest against the Canadiens at PPG Paints Arena. It marked the first time Joseph had that luxury after being a healthy scratch in the three previous contests.
Veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov — who essentially took Joseph’s job upon arrival via a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on March 3 — suffered an undisclosed injury during the second period of a 3-2 home overtime win against the New York Rangers on Sunday that will keep him sidelined on a week-to-week basis.
That misfortune has created the opening for Joseph to reclaim his former gig on the left side of the Penguins’ third defensive pairing next to right-hander Jan Rutta.
“We’re winning, so I really don’t care about anything else but this,” Joseph said of being a healthy scratch. “I just want to compete on the ice whenever I’m practicing. Working hard in the gym and keeping a good attitude around the guys.”
That disposition has been noticed by his veteran teammates, including the captain who has largely established the culture the Penguins have in their dressing room.
“He handled it well,” forward Sidney Crosby said. “You wouldn’t be able to tell based on the way he approached every day. He’s got a great attitude regardless of the situation that he’s in. That’s been that way since Day 1. It says a lot about him and his attitude. He comes to the rink with a smile on his face and works hard every day. It’s great to see that.”
Management wasn’t necessarily displeased with what Joseph has offered to this point of his rookie campaign when it opted to acquire Kulikov and insert him in the lineup. It just wanted a different type of player while also boosting the team’s overall depth.
Kulikov is a veteran defensive presence whose 107 blocked shots in 65 games this season (between the Penguins and Ducks) is the third-highest figure among defensemen currently on the Penguins roster. Additionally, he has 16 points (three goals, 13 assists).
Meanwhile, Joseph is more of an offensively minded entity. Entering Tuesday, he had appeared in 59 games and had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists), fifth-most among rookie defensemen this season.
“Obviously a different player than (Kulikov),” Rutta said. “I really like the progress P.O (has had) this year. He’s been playing really well. He uses his skating. He makes really smart plays. He has got great offense to his game. Different players but it’s fun to play with both.”
Joseph doesn’t seem to mind a union with Rutta either.
“He’s won everything,” Joseph said in reference to Rutta’s history as a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “He knows how to win. It shows how he wants to bring his game to the next level every time he’s on the ice. He’s a really solid defenseman and he’s reliable. We have a good chemistry, and he definitely helps me on the ice for sure.”
Joseph will likely remain on the ice for the foreseeable future after sitting for three games.
“He handled it extremely well,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a real good pro, he’s a great teammate. He controls what he can, he works hard in practice, he keeps himself ready. That’s what our expectation is. The way he carried himself was admirable. He’s a good pro. He understands it. But he’s a competitive guy. He wants to be in the lineup every night.”