Penguins forward Jason Zucker finding more success with health
Jason Zucker didn’t have a problem setting screens last season.
Even when a core muscle injury — an all-encompassing-term that involves but isn’t limited to a groin — hindered him for the bulk of the campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward never was hesitant to go to the blue paint and battle for position with a defenseman who viewed him with the prejudice of a trespasser.
Being a net-front presence was not an issue for Zucker.
But getting there? That was the true challenge.
Zucker’s ailment hindered his skating in the sense of how he could move on the ice and not so much the pure speed or strength with which he could do it.
And in the case of net-front battles, getting there with quickness — and not necessarily speed — made the task of setting a screen an issue on a technical front.
“That’s what I didn’t have with the quickness of things,” Zucker said. “I could get to full speed, but it took me the whole sheet of the ice to get to full speed. It was the initial burst of speed, and that quickness was what I really missed. I think I can get on pucks a little bit quicker now. I think I can get to the net front a little bit quicker and get my body positioned in front of a defenseman instead of being late and him boxing me out early, little stuff like that for sure.”
During a 6-1 home win against the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 20, the Penguins scored their opening goal thanks to Zucker’s presence around the cage.
After Penguins forward Bryan Rust got the puck in deep along the Kings’ end boards, linemate Evgeni Malkin wound up with possession in the right corner and then backhanded a pass off the half wall to Rutta at the right point. Backpedaling a bit towards the blue line, Rutta flicked a wrister toward the cage.
Above the crease, Zucker provided a stout screen while battling Kings defenseman Sean Walker. That allowed the puck to find an avenue through the legs of unsuspecting backup goaltender Cal Petersen.
Zucker deployed a similar tactic later in the contest on the Penguins’ fourth goal, a power-play score by defenseman Jeff Petry.
The only difference was Zucker did not have to body up on a defender and simply stood in front of goaltender Jonathan Quick, obstructing his view of Petry’s wrister from the right point.
Regardless of the circumstances, Zucker (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) has full confidence in his abilities to be effective near the cage, with exceptions against some of the relatively few bulldozers who still patrol the blue line in the NHL.
“If I can body position on someone first, I should be able to stay there,” Zucker said. “Depending on who it is, of course.”
Zucker is off to a strong start this season, having posted eight points (two goals, six assists) while skating on a line with Malkin.
During the Penguins’ 6-3 road loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Zucker opened the scoring with a one-timer off a feed from Malkin.
Free of the maladies that maligned him last season, Zucker’s skating ability isn’t the only thing that has returned with good health.
“He’s been so unlucky with the injuries that he’s been getting the last few years,” defenseman Marcus Pettersson said. “It’s really fun to see him smiling. The energy he brings to the room every day, it’s so much fun to see.”
Note: The Penguins had a scheduled day off Thursday.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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