CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Exhibition games, like those in the regular season and playoffs, are all about wins and losses.
Except that during the preseason, the results aren't necessarily determined by what shows up on the scoreboard.
Instead, it's roster spots and roles that are won and lost -- "There are open positions everywhere," defenseman Marcus Pettersson said Sunday. -- along with intangibles such as the confidence of coaches and teammates.
So yeah, the Penguins would like to pick up a victory when they face the Blue Jackets in the exhibition opener Monday at 7:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, but it won't be their primary objective.
Might not even crack the top 10.
"There are multiple objectives here, and we are going to try to accomplish all of those things throughout the course of the exhibition season," Mike Sullivan said. "We're going to continue to try to build, with our own team concept, with different aspects of our overall team game."
An overarching objective for the coaching staff, he added, will be "trying to get players out of the summer mentality and back into the NHL mindset," a process that began with four days of drills and scrimmages.
That's a goal that applies to all 50 players still on the roster, following a round of cuts following Sunday's session, but they won't all be looking to accomplish the same things over the next few weeks.
Of course, not every player will be competing for a job on the Opening Night roster when they are called upon to play during the six-game exhibition schedule that will conclude Oct. 9 in Columbus. It's safe to assume that the likes of Jeff Carter, Kris Letang, Jake Guentzel and quite a few others, if healthy, will be in uniform for Game 1 Oct. 12 in Tampa.
Guys with that kind of security can focus on getting their games back in synch, on meshing with their linemates or defense partners.
Mike Matheson, who will have a new defense partner because Cody Ceci went to Edmonton, appreciates the opportunity the preseason provides in that regard.
"Exhibition games are important for that," he said.
Other players will be confronting different challenges.
Tryout candidates Brian Boyle and Matt Bartkowski will be trying to earn a contract. Others will be looking to prove that they're worthy of regular work on the power play, which will start the season without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, or penalty-killing unit. And some prospects, knowing they are destined to start the season in Wilkes-Barre, will be out to convince management they are viable options for an early recall if the parent club has injuries or unsatisfactory performances.
Sullivan said that starting the season without Crosby and Malkin, who are recovering from off-season surgeries, makes it "more than likely" that there will be more experimentation than usual with personnel combinations this year because "there are more positions that are in play."
The Penguins recognize the offense they will lose with Crosby and Malkin out, and how that will mandate an emphasis on strong defensive play.
"We know we can't win games, 6-5," Matheson said. "To start the season, especially."
Still, a number of players, including Zach Aston-Reese, said they hope to use the exhibition games to sharpen their offensive games, allowing them to be more productive than in previous seasons.
"I'd like to add a little more offense," Aston-Reese said. "Instead of rimming pucks around the net or trying to give an extra pass, maybe being a little bit more of a shooter and trying to get to the net a little more."
Pettersson volunteered that he, too, would like to get pucks on the net more often, as part of upgrading his overall performance during the coming season.
"For me, it's about taking the next step," he said. "I really want to put my best foot forward in the exhibition games."