Zucker returns to practice, making no excuses for prior play

Jason ZuckerCRANBERRY, Pa. -- Jason Zucker said that he didn't want to "make excuses" for his play earlier in the season.

Through the first three months of the season, Zucker had recorded just four goals and seven assists through 30 games, primarily in a top-six role. His shooting percentage had dropped to just 4.9 percent.

Unbeknownst to the public, Zucker had been playing through a core muscle injury for what he said was "quite awhile."

It would be easy to blame his earlier struggles on the injury, but Zucker didn't want to use that as a defense.

"If I'm good enough to be in the lineup, I should be performing," he said after Saturday's practice at the Lemieux Complex. "Yes, I was playing…