Sullivan: 'Nobody in our dressing room is comfortable' before Game 5

CRANBERRY, Pa. — The Penguins are thrilled with their performance through their first four games of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, but by no means are they ready to pat themselves on the back.

Or to take a premature victory lap.

"Nobody's comfortable. Nobody in our dressing room is comfortable." Mike Sullivan told reporters at the conclusion of the Penguins' optional practice Tuesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. "We understand the challenge ahead of us. We're just trying to stay in the moment. We're gonna try to learn through each experience. We're gonna try to get better as a team. We gotta stay hungry, and just stay in the moment."

Faceoff for Game 5 Wednesday is 7:10 p.m. at Madison Square Garden. That's the moment.

For a team that has controlled 64.4% of the expected goals and scored 58.9% of the actual goals in four games against an opponent that many figured would give them fits, it would be plain human nature if the Penguins were to exhale, however slight it may be. But Sullivan knows there's a long, grueling road ahead to their ultimate goal. 

He believes that showing up with the proper mindset, a standard set by none other than Sidney Crosby, and taking each day and challenge as it comes to them is the best path forward for continued success.

"I think it starts with a mindset. It starts with an attitude before the puck drops," Sullivan continued. "And that's the message to our group. I think we have great leadership. We've got a veteran group in there that has been through a lot of these playoff experiences, and they understand how hard it is. The elimination game is always the most difficult. We know the challenge that's ahead of us. We're gonna have to go out and earn it each and every night, just like we have to this point. So, we're gonna hit the reset button. We're gonna go to work. We're gonna do our best to put or best game on the ice."

"It's gonna be a different game. It's gonna be the hardest game to win," Kris Letang said. "Some games go certain ways, and it doesn't matter if you win by five goals or in overtime, a win's a win. We have to be able to turn the page quick."

None of this is exactly new, particularly from Sullivan. We've heard variations of it for years, but what's important is that those items, like mindset and attitude, are at the forefront of their thought process each and every day.

With that in place, it's so much easier to play the game the right way, as I illustrated in my Drive to the Net following Game 4.

MORE FROM THE SKATE

• Tuesday's practice was optional. The only healthy skaters who did not participate were Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter, Jason Zucker, Mark Friedman and Chad Ruhwedel. Anticipate each of them hitting the ice for tomorrow's morning skate in New York.

• Tristan Jarry once again hit the ice before practice began. Here's some video proof, from Taylor Haase:

According to Taylor, Jarry was pleading with the rink workers for two more minutes on the ice at the end of his session to get some extra work in.

• Rickard Rakell joined the team for practice for the first time since taking a hit up high from Ryan Lindgren in Game 1. He skated in a regular black jersey, but Sullivan clarified that he has not been cleared for contact yet, and that their low-physicality practice plans didn't necessitate a non-contact jersey for Rakell.

Rakell skated on his own several days in a row before getting back with the team. He is still day-to-day.

• No updates were offered on Brian Dumoulin. It's safe to say that his status has not changed, and that he remains day-to-day.

• Here's what Kasperi Kapanen had to say about his strong playoff performance to this point: "I'm happy I showed up at some point this season. Better late than never, I guess. I think it's just keeping things simple. I feel like on the forecheck I'm trying to be aggressive and using my body and making hits. Just shooting the puck more. I think I've been shooting more these past four games than I did in 40 games this season. So, just keep doing that and using my speed and just competing. I feel like our line's been generating a lot of momentum for our team, too, so just gotta keep at it."

More from Kapanen on the impact his late-season healthy scratches had: "I'd be lying if I said it didn't piss me off or upset me. You always want to play every game. It was a bit of a struggle all year, but that's in the past and these last four games I feel like I've gotten back into my groove and gotten some confidence, and I think it shows."

• "I wasn't aware of that until after the game," Sullivan said after becoming the winningest head coach in Penguins playoff history with his 44th postseason victory. "I don't really give a whole lot of thought to that kind of stuff, quite honestly, because we're so immersed in the moment right now. What I will tell you is, with some of the names that I read last night after the game, that's a humbling moment for me ... The opportunity to coach this team has been just an honor and a privilege. The group of players that have been here in my time have been second-to-none from a character standpoint, and I don't take a single day for it for granted."

• Sullivan was asked if today was a maintenance day for him because he didn't go out on the ice for practice: "A maintenance day would mean I wouldn't have to do this," he said, a not-so-subtle grin planted on his face. "Which would be very welcoming on my end."