Cody Glass, embracing new penalty-killing role, scores 1st goal with Penguins

Over the last three games since returning to action from a concussion, Cody Glass has been deployed at a different spot in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ lineup.

“That’s just the NHL for you,” Glass said regarding the frequent changes to his linemates and responsibilities of late.

Glass, who was sidelined for just under a month after suffering a concussion Nov. 7 vs. the Carolina Hurricanes, rejoined the Penguins Dec. 6 in New York vs. the Rangers, starting the game at fourth-line center with Kevin Hayes and Noel Acciari.

The following evening, Glass was bumped up to Evgeni Malkin’s second-line right wing, filling in for winger Philip Tomasino, who missed the game with an injury.

Most recently, Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche, coach Mike Sullivan moved Glass again, this time to right wing on the third line with Michael Bunting and Blake Lizotte.

When the Penguins went down 2-0 to Colorado after one period of play Tuesday, Sullivan had yet another move to make that impacted Glass, putting him back on Malkin’s line in a swap with Drew O’Connor.

That in-game adjustment promptly bore fruit as Glass, assisted by Malkin, scored his first goal of the season about seven minutes into the second period.

Intercepting the puck to regain possession in the offensive zone, Kris Letang dished it the way of Malkin, who attracted the attention of four of Colorado’s five skaters.

All alone in the right faceoff circle upon receiving Malkin’s pass, Glass fired a wrister that beat Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood to collect his first goal in a Penguins sweater.

Cody Glass with his first tally as a Penguin ???? pic.twitter.com/liNeevNBOH

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 11, 2024

“It was a good feeling,” Glass said. “That’s what happens when you play with (Malkin) — he’ll find you anywhere. It’s a play where (Letang) makes a great play on the wall, gives it to (Malkin) and he finds me streaking backside.”

Glass, acquired this summer from the Nashville Predators, is one of several former first-round draft picks (Vegas Golden Knights, No. 6 overall in 2017), a group that also includes Jesse Puljujarvi and Tomasino, that general manager Kyle Dubas has brought aboard, hoping a change of scenery in Pittsburgh will lead to good things.

The month Glass was out with a concussion makes it hard to offer an assessment of his body of work.

But through 17 games played, he’s contributed one goal with five assists, logging an average of 12 minutes, 14 seconds.

While Glass’ offensive contributions have been modest, he has provided additional value to the Penguins on the penalty kill.

Already, Glass’ 30:01 of short-handed time this season exceeds the total penalty-killing action (18:22) he saw in his NHL career through 186 prior games with Vegas and the Predators over parts of five seasons, per Natural Stat Trick.

Despite a lack of prior experience, Sullivan identified Glass as a short-handed option during training camp in September.

“We think he’s a cerebral player. He has aptitude,” Sullivan said. “When you look at the skill sets that he has, he’s got good size, he’s got a long reach, he can skate and he has aptitude. So he has all the qualities that, for me, would set up for success in a penalty kill environment. Just because a player hasn’t killed doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not capable of it.

“When we looked at his game, we felt as though he has all the attributes that would set him up to be good in that area of the rink or the game.”

In Tuesday’s loss to Colorado, Glass logged 3:16 of short-handed time, or roughly 20% of his total time on ice (16:09).

On the year, he’s averaging 1:46 on the penalty kill, which ranks fourth among Penguins forwards.

“You have to try to take advantage of every opportunity, and if I can get more ice time being on the (penalty kill) or power play, I’ll take advantage of it,” Glass said. “(Assistant coach Mike) Vellucci has been good to me — he runs the (penalty kill) — and I feel like I’ve been doing a good job.

“I’ve been skating hard, working hard and I feel like I’m pretty smart for my stick. Being on the (penalty kill) would be a good aspect to my game.”