These guys have played hockey for most of their lives.
They've played it for fun.
They've played it for money.
But the Penguins haven't played it in two weeks -- not in an actual game setting, anyway -- which injects an element of uncertainty into their meeting with the Sharks Sunday at 1:08 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
While it's not unusual for individuals to sit out a couple of weeks, or even a lot more, because of an injury, it only happens to an entire team when there's an Olympic break.
Or, it turns out, a pandemic.
The Olympic break that had been scheduled for next month has been called off, because the pandemic that has spawned such chaos in the hockey world, and everywhere else, for nearly two years has yet to be canceled.
COVID-19 is the reason the Penguins have had their past five games postponed, and why they will be without at least a few players who are in the league's Covid protocol for the Sharks game. They include some or all of Tristan Jarry, Kasperi Kapanen, Jeff Carter, Teddy Blueger and P.O Joseph.
However, three guys who had been in the protocol -- defensemen John Marino and Mike Matheson and forward Dominik Simon -- were cleared to practice Saturday and should be available against the Sharks after getting through the workout with no apparent problem.
"I was asymptomatic," Marino said. "I feel pretty good out there."
Matheson said he also did not have any symptoms, and that he was able to work out in a home gym during his time in quarantine.
They tested positive during the NHL's holiday break, and thus have not missed any games.
The Penguins also could get back three top-six forwards who have had lengthy absences.
Evgeni Malkin hasn't played since undergoing offseason knee surgery, Bryan Rust has missed the past 11 games because of an unspecified lower-body injury and Jake Guentzel didn't dress for the past five because of a broken knuckle on his right hand. All of them have been practicing this week.
Of course, getting acclimated to having those guys available figures to be a lot more pleasant for Mike Sullivan than trying to get his team back into the form it had while winning its previous seven games, especially when it's facing a team that's had two games since the NHL's holiday break ended a week ago.
Going 14 days between games simply isn't part of the normal NHL routine.
"These guys are used to playing three-plus times a week, so when you get out of that routine, there's a little bit of an adjustment process," Sullivan said. "For me, the biggest thing is just the mindset and the compete level, because it's hard to simulate that stuff in practice. There's a certain intensity, with respect to an NHL hockey game, that is very difficult to simulate. The only way you get it is when you get into the game."
Casey DeSmith said after practice that he believes that getting a good start against the Sharks is imperative, while Matheson suggested the Penguins have to be prepared to function at something shy of peak efficiency.
"It's a matter of your mindset, going into a game like tomorrow, where you have been off for a while and recognizing the fact that it might take us a little while to get going and have enough plans to combat that a little bit, in the sense that you know you're not going to be at your best," he said.
"The puck might feel like it's hopping off your stick a little more. Your reads might not be there as often as they might be in the regular flow of the season. You have to treat it like the first game of the season, where you keep things simple and minimize mistakes by whatever the first option is, you (take) that option and let the puck do the work instead of looking for the second of third option. ... All in all, keeping it simple will be the best recipe for us."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• DeSmith is expected to start in goal against San Jose, and might get some work after that because Jarry has experienced symptoms. Sullivan characterized them as "mild," but did not speculate on when Jarry might be ready to return to the lineup. "I'm not sure how this is going to unfold, moving forward, with respect to the protocol," he said. "So I don't know when Tristan will be available to us. I think that will be a day-to-day thing."
• Evan Rodrigues replaced Malkin on the No. 1 power play, but Malkin split time on the left point of the second unit with Matheson.
• DeSmith, on how he's tried to avoid coronavirus by spending time outside and playing disc golf: "You're not going to get Covid in the woods, which is nice."
• Brian Boyle did not participate in the practice for "personal reasons" and will not be available Sunday, Sullivan said.
• Sullivan, on the possibility of Drew O'Connor filling in for Teddy Blueger between Zach Aston-Reese and Brock McGinn: "We, as a coaching staff, have a comfort level, at this point, in playing Drew in the middle. He has aptitude for the game. He picks things up quickly and I think that, because of that, he's established himself as a guy who can play multiple positions."
• Personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Evan Rodrigues
Aston-Reese-Drew O'Connor-Brock McGinn
Kasper Bjorkqvist-Sam Laffery-Dominik Simon (Anthony Angello rotated in)
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-Chad Ruhwedel
Mike Matheson-John Marino
Juuso Riikola-Mark Friedman
Power play No. 1: Letang, Crosby, Guentzel, Rodrigues and Rust.
Power play No. 2: Marino, Heinen, O'Connor, Simon, Matheson/Malkin.
