CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Jake Guentzel is fearless, so perhaps it isn't a surprise that he's blocked more shots this season than any Penguins forward except Brock McGinn.
He's done it 20 times in 24 games, and it's safe to assume that a few of those stung a little.
Or maybe a lot.
None likely hurt more, however, than the puck he stopped with his right hand during the first period of a 6-1 victory in Seattle Dec. 6.
Guentzel acknowledged after practice Tuesday that that puck broke one of his knuckles -- "It got me in the wrong spot," he said. "Not really much I could do" -- which was enough to force him to briefly adjourn to the locker room, albeit not enough to stop him from scoring two goals against the Kraken.
"It's just part of the game," he said. "That happens sometimes. You just have to deal with it and move on."
The injury, which Guentzel characterized as "a little fracture," prevented him from playing in any of the four games that followed, and he surely would have sat out a few more if the pandemic hadn't led to the postponement of five Penguins games, including a scheduled visit to Ottawa Friday.
And while he still is listed as day-to-day, Guentzel looks more than ready to return the next time the Penguins will play, which could be as soon as Sunday, when San Jose is scheduled to visit PPG Paints Arena at 1:08 p.m.
"We'll make a decision when the time comes," Mike Sullivan said, allowing that "I thought he was really good in practice today."
So were his once and future linemates, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.
Rust has missed the past 11 games because of an unspecified lower-body injury, but also seems ready to rejoin the lineup.
Those three have been in uniform together only a half-dozen times this season, but have the potential to form one of the NHL's more productive units.
"We know we have chemistry together, and we know that when we're all playing well, we can be a really good line in this league," Guentzel said. "We just have to get that back."
There is ample precedent for that.
"They've been a very good line for us for a long time, and they've played a lot of minutes together," Sullivan said. "They play together for a reason, because they have chemistry. They're a very, very good line. They all bring a little something different to the table, but they're all very good players. They've been such an impact line for us for so long, and that's what they're capable of."
Guentzel missed practice Monday because of a non-COVID illness, which he described as "a one-night sickness."
He causes a lot of opponents to experience something like that, such as when he scored seven times in his final four games before the knuckle injury forced him out of action.
Replicating that kind of output when he goes back on active duty might be a bit much to expect, of course, although Guentzel apparently won't stress over it.
"I don't think you have to worry about it too much," he said. "I just go out and play hockey and let the rest follow."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• The Penguins summoned goalie Louis Domingue, forward Kasper Bjorkqvist and defensemen Juuso Riikola and P.O Joseph from their farm team in Wilkes-Barre to serve on the taxi squad. Joseph tested positive for COVID-19 before the practice, so he obviously did not participate.
• Sullivan made it clear that, in light of revised guidelines issued by the CDC, he'd like to see the NHL rethink some of its COVID policies. "The fact the CDC came out and adjusted the guidelines, usually, I think, the powers-that-be tend to value ... the guidelines they come up with," he said. "With each passing day, I think the medical world learns more about what they're dealing with and how to deal with it. For me, it just makes sense that protocols are adjusted, based on what they learn, based on new information."
• Casey DeSmith, on being the No. 1 goalie while Tristan Jarry is in the COVID protocol: "It's just business as usual, the next-man-up mentality. The opportunity to play -- I wish it was under different circumstances, obviously I don't love (Jarry having COVID) or anything -- but I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play."
• Sullivan, on the Penguins' seemingly incessant injury and illness issues: "We're anxious to get a healthy lineup. I don't know if we'll ever get there, but we'd like to get close. We'll take that right now."
• Of the players the Penguins put into the COVID protocol Monday -- John Marino, Evan Rodrigues, Mike Matheson, Dominik Simon, Teddy Blueger and Jarry -- Sullivan said "nothing has changed with respect to their symptoms, or lack thereof." Most of the group, he added, is asymptomatic.
• Personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Jeff Carter-Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Aston-Reese-Drew O'Connor-Brock McGinn
Evgeni Malkin/Kasper Bjorkqvist-Brian Boyle-Sam Lafferty
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Chad Ruhwedel
Juuso Riikola-Mark Friedman
No. 1 power play: Crosby, Letang, Rust, Guentzel and Carter
No. 2 power play: Malkin, Pettersson, Heinen, O'Connor and Kapanen
