PHILADELPHIA — There aren’t many scenarios in which dressing a 6-foot-6, 232-pound buffalo of a power forward like Justin Brazeau would make your lineup smaller.
Though when the guy he is replacing is the tallest player in franchise history — Elmer Soderblom is measured at 6-8, 252 pounds — there really isn’t any place to go but down.
But the primary metric the Penguins would like to see inflation with is goals (to say nothing of wins).
And that’s what they hope Brazeau can provide.
During the Penguins’ morning skate at Xfinity Mobile Arena ahead of Game 3 of a first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, Brazeau operated on the third line with rookie Ben Kindel at center and Egor Chinakhov on the right wing.
The team’s top three lines were all augmented to some degree, with Rickard Rakell manning the left wing of the top line with center Sidney Crosby and right winger Bryan Rust. Meanwhile, Tommy Novak worked at center with Anthony Mantha to his port side while Evgeni Malkin held down the starboard side.
Soderblom worked as a reserve, whereas Brazeau appears likely to rejoin the lineup after being a healthy scratch for two games.
The motivation for the presumed addition of Brazeau is simple.
He’s big, and he goes to the net.
The Penguins have largely failed to generate many second-chance scoring opportunities — deflections, rebounds, etc. — through the first two games of the series, each of which was a loss.
“Obviously, we’ve struggled getting pucks to the net or traffic to the net,” Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea said. “With him being there and being the guy he is — he’s so good around the net — that he’s going to plant himself there, he’s physical, he’s going to push guys around. It’s a huge opportunity for him and a huge opportunity for us to get pucks down to him and let him go to work.”
Getting any kind of work has an obvious appeal to Brazeau after sitting out for two games.
“I’m just excited to play my game,” Brazeau said. “This time of year is the best time of year to play hockey. Missed the last couple of games but excited to get in.
“When I’m at my best, I’m around that paint most of the time in the offensive zone. I’m not going to try to do anything crazy. I’m just going to play my game I have my whole career and try to get there (the net) as much as I can.”
Though Brazeau is big and burly, the 19-year-old Kindel is more of a technical, by-the-book rookie center. As for Chinakhov, he is a dynamic and dangerous goal-scorer who skates quicker than a hiccup.
The trio offers an intriguing blend.
“All three of us kind of bring a different element,” Brazeau said. “Obviously, in the offensive zone, I want those guys skating around with the puck. And I know where I have to go. So, it makes it easy for me to read off of them. Two guys with a lot of skill and able to shoot the puck.
“I’m just going to try to make it as easy as I can for them.”
Things would be much easier if Brazeau — or anybody — would find ways to generate more sustained offense.
Through the first two games, the Penguins have been limited to two goals, each coming in a 3-2 loss in Game 1. Following a 3-0 loss in Game 2, there was plenty of reason to make changes.
“We just have to simplify our game,” Brazeau said. “It’s less about what they’ve done and more about us maybe a little more stubborn in certain spots. It’s just simplifying, making sure we’re trying to get pucks there as we can and wear them down that way.”
In 64 games during the regular season, Brazeau set career highs in goals (17) and points (34). Much of that was generated within the gravitational pull of the crease.
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“What we’re looking for with (Brazeau) is just leading with that ability to get in on the forecheck,” coach Dan Muse said. “He’s shown that. Get stops, get to the net. He’s obviously a guy who can do a lot of good things there in terms of puck protection down low.
“Those are the things that he’s done over the course of this year when he’s at his best.”
Notes: With their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, failing to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs, the Flyers recalled defensemen Carson Bjarnasson, Helge Grans and Hunter McDonald, as well as forwards Oskar Eklind and Jacob Gaucher, as so-called “black aces.” Players with that designation are added to an NHL roster during the postseason to further their development through practices.