In many ways, Reilly Smith’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for our Penguins. Not only does Smith’s absence rob the black-and-gold of a skilled if slumping forward, it upsets the delicate balance among our lines that coach Mike Sullivan and his staff worked so hard to achieve.
However, as the old saying goes, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity.
Who will Sullivan plug into the breach?
The logical answer is Radim Zohorna, who’s currently on the roster as a ready-made replacement. However, since starting his season on a comparative hot streak with three goals and five points in his first nine games, “Big Z’s” been colder than a North Atlantic mackerel with only two points (1+1) in his past 20 games.