It's not that getting Brian Dumoulin back would cure all of the Penguins' defensive issues.
Especially when he hasn't played since Jan. 26 because of an unspecified lower-body injury.
And when, for that matter, his performance in the seven games before he was hurt was pretty ordinary.
Nonetheless, if Dumoulin rejoins the lineup for the Penguins' game against the Flyers Saturday at 1:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena -- which seems entirely possible after he worked in his usual spot alongside Kris Letang on the No. 1 pairing at practice Friday -- it could have an impact felt throughout the defense corps.
"He's just a real good, reliable, 200-foot defenseman," Mike Sullivan said. "When we do have (Dumoulin) in our lineup, it puts the other defensemen in positions where we envisioned them being, that sets them up to be successful. When you lose a guy like (Dumoulin), who plays the type of minutes he plays -- against the type of players he plays against -- we're asking other guys to step up and fill that void, and that's not an easy challenge."
Dumoulin's teammates are keenly aware of his value to the group, too.
"He always seems to make the right play," Marcus Pettersson said. "He's always in a good position. He's a guy we, on the (defense) corps, really lean on and look to play similar to."
Dumoulin was averaging 22 minutes, 19 seconds of ice time per game, including a team-high average of two minutes, 46 seconds of shorthanded work when he was injured.
The Penguins' dismal penalty-killing success rate of 73.5 percent this season can't be attributed solely to his absence, but he certainly could help there.
Just as he could help to reduce the number of quality scoring chances -- and, ultimately, goals -- that other teams get by sticking players in front of the Penguins' net.
The Flyers' dominant play around Tristan Jarry's crease was a major factor when they rallied from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Penguins, 4-3, Thursday night. Trying to limit the damage Philadelphia can do in such situations will be a priority for the Penguins Saturday.
"They've got a couple of guys who are really good in front," defenseman Cody Ceci said. "You have to just try to tie up sticks and get on the right side of the body. If not, try to block the shot."
The Penguins built a 3-0 lead in the first four minutes of the opening period, then watched it erode over the 56 minutes that followed.
It was their ninth loss in regulation this season, and almost certainly the most troubling one because of the way they controlled the early minutes.
"It definitely stung," Ceci said. "We started out great. From there, we didn't handle their pushback that well."
Saturday's game will complete a three-game series against the Flyers, and the Penguins insist they are glad they have a chance for redemption that quickly.
"The good thing about this schedule is, we get them (Saturday)," Jake Guentzel said. "We know we have to bounce back."
Of course, knowing that and actually doing it aren't necessarily synonymous, but the Penguins seem eager to try.
"It's nice that we play them again so soon," Ceci said. "We just have to be ready for them."
Having Dumoulin back in their lineup likely would help to make that possible.
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• Sullivan said defenseman Mark Friedman, who was visibly dazed and left the game Thursday after hitting Flyers forward Nolan Patrick, still is being evaluated and offered no additional information on his injury or prognosis.
• Evan Rodrigues, who has missed the past 16 games because of an unspecified lower-body injury, practiced at right wing on the fourth line with Sam Lafferty and Mark Jankowski.
• Sullivan said defenseman P.O Joseph and winger Drew O'Connor were assigned to the Penguins' farm team in Wilkes-Barre to get them playing time, which they wouldn't have received as members of the taxi squad. "We're really excited about (Joseph's) game, where it's at and where we think it potentially could go," he said. "With some of these young players, we don't want them on the sidelines for too long. We all feel strongly that part of the learning experience and the development process is experiential learning, through the games. If it's not going to happen here on a consistent basis, we need to give them the opportunity to play lots of minutes in Wilkes-Barre and continue to grow and develop their game."
