With Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta out because of a suspected head injury, defenseman Derrick Pouliot made his Stanley Cup playoffs debut Monday in Game 3 against the Washington Capitals at Consol Energy Center.
It was Pouliot’s first game since the regular-season finale April 9 in Philadelphia.
“I didn’t play for a bit there,” he said before Game 3. “There’s really no adjustment period that you have. You’re really back in it. You have to be sharp. Hopefully I’ll be ready if I get that chance.”
Having such a long layoff provided a challenge for Pouliot.