CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- There are, in fact, two teams on the ice in 3-on-3 overtimes.
It just doesn't always seem that way when the Penguins have been involved. And by the "Penguins," that means a couple of them. Take Monday night's 4-3 overtime win over the Flames, when only eight different skaters -- of 18 -- played in the extra session for the home team.
That is typical of most overtimes when only a select few -- read: offensive-minded players -- ever hop over the boards. And Tom Kuhnhackl is totally cool with that.
"I'm actually happy that I'm not out there," Kuhnhackl said with a laugh after Tuesday's practice at the Lemieux Sports Complex. "I'd be too nervous that I'd make a turnover and there would be a 2-on-0 the other way. There's only three guys out there but, obviously, I'd love to be out there once in a while to see how it feels."
As long as the Penguins can put out the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel, three of the NHL's top-14 point producers, to go along with offensive-minded defensemen like Kris Letang and Justin Schultz, Kuhnhackl is going to be waiting a long, long time to see how it feels.
Since the NHL adopted the 3-on-3 overtime format all the way back at the start of the 2015-16 season, few teams have benefitted more than the Penguins, who have won the Stanley Cup every year since. This season the Penguins are 9-2 in OT, earning an important additional nine points after Monday's win:
"It doesn't come down to the hard work and grit and skill mixed together," fourth-line center Riley Sheahan said. "It's more about skill and capitalizing on opportunities. I think with us, we're pretty confident with the guys we put on the ice at 3-on-3, it's a good thing for us."
Not so good for their opponents, obviously.
For goalies, watching a track meet when teams exchange chance after chance can't be easy. But it is fun, according to Tristan Jarry.
"It's very cool," the goalie said. "You get to see some of the best players in the world go at it, back and forth. I think it's great to see. It's fun to be part of and fun to watch. I'm glad I'm on this side of it."
As Jarry sees it, it's his job to stop the puck no matter the circumstance, whether it's even strength, power play, 3-on-3 overtime or even the dreaded and increasingly rare shootout. The Penguins have had only four of those and have gone 2-2.
Anything but a shootout, said Bryan Rust.
"I think that games that end that way are kind of useless," he said. "It's gimmicky. I guess it's hockey ... but it's not really hockey."
And much like the 3-on-3 overtime, it depends on your perspective. As long as the Penguins have the highest of high-end skill players and are winning with it, they'll love it.
"It's been good to us but when you're on the losing end, that changes your mind a little bit," Sheahan said.
• Sullivan said he's been just as impressed with what he's seen from Jarry after the whistle as during play. The coach said that Jarry is similar to Matt Murray in both style and a demeanor which has a calming influence on the team.
If anything, Jarry might be a little too calm for Sullivan.
"The discussion I have with Tristan all the time is that there's a fine line between poise and nonchalance and I think that's part of Tristan's personality," Sullivan said. "That's an aspect of his game that we're trying to help him grow. Just bring that certain level of intensity to his approach every day that's going to help him continue to be the goaltender that we think he's capable of becoming."
• Sullivan said he held a film session with his players to review their recent habit of surrendering odd-man rushes. His message: "It's about attention to detail, it's a commitment to playing the game the right way. I know that this group is capable of playing that way and when we do, we get consistent results."
• All healthy players took to the ice Tuesday. Zach-Aston Reese (upper body) and Murray (concussion) are still out. Earlier, Murray skated on his own again in full gear without facing any shots.
• Sullivan practiced with the same lines and pairs used the night earlier vs. Calgary:
Guentzel-Crosby-Hornqvist
Hagelin-Malkin-Rust
Simon-Brassard-Kessel
Kuhnhackl-Sheahan-Sheary
Dumoulin-Letang
Maatta-Ruhwedel
Oleksiak-Schultz
Note: Matt Hunwick was present but not paired.
• After practice, the Penguins were scheduled to charter to Philadelphia where up to a foot of snow is expected Wednesday. It's the second Nor'easter the Penguins have faced recently after last weekend's storm in Boston.