LOS ANGELES — Sometimes, when center Matt Cullen wants to communicate a point, or explain his thinking on a set play or idea, he will break out the dry-erase board and sketch out his thoughts with linemates Sergei Plotnikov and Eric Fehr.
Plotnikov, understandably, is still gaining command of the language with twice-weekly lessons since coming to North America from his native Russia two months ago.
But while Plotnikov’s English might still be coming along slowly, the chemistry is building quickly for the Penguins’ fourth line that is starting to seem a bit more like a second or third line.