With 2nd goal in 4 games, Penguins' Kevin Hayes gets back on radar

The third line currently being deployed by the Pittsburgh Penguins features a concentration of size unlike any other combination of forwards on the club.

Centered by Kevin Hayes, with Drew O’Connor and Jesse Puljujarvi at left and right wing, it boasts an average frame of just over 6-foot-4 and 213 pounds.

Forming any attachment to that trio sticking together would be unwise. Puljujarvi disappeared as a healthy scratch for an entire month before re-entering the lineup Jan. 7, and Hayes was scratched for nine straight games starting in December.

But, for now, coach Mike Sullivan likes the sample size.

“We put (O’Connor) and Jesse with (Hayes) right now,” Sullivan said Thursday, after the Penguins’ 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. “They’re two guys that are big and strong and can skate. When those guys get in on the forecheck and wreak havoc and force turnovers, I think it creates turnovers for the whole line. I thought that line was really good for us tonight.”

Sullivan sketched out how the Penguins’ third goal Thursday, scored by Hayes, went down.

On the forecheck, Puljujarvi accelerated into Edmonton’s zone and, with one hand on his stick, disrupted a pass by Oilers defenseman Brett Kulak.

That put the puck in play for O’Connor, who fought off Adam Henrique in the trapezoid with a helping hand from Puljujarvi.

Getting clean possession behind the cage, O’Connor fired an on-target pass to Hayes, who had set up just in front of Stuart Skinner before depositing a short-range snapper past the Edmonton netminder.

“I was last on the ice, so I was the third guy high,” Hayes said of the scoring sequence. “They were cycling down low, and then (O’Connor) beat a guy out to the side of the net, put it out front and (I) put it in. We almost had a couple like that tonight.”

Kevin Hayes strikes like a true Jedi. pic.twitter.com/1Z8gbShSp6

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 10, 2025

Puljujarvi collected the secondary assist, his first point since Nov. 19, when he scored against Tampa Bay.

The goal was Hayes’ second in four games since Sullivan reinserted him into the lineup Jan. 3 after multiple weeks of being scratched.

Hayes’ last goal, Jan. 5 against Carolina, also came via a feed from O’Connor on a two-on-one.

“He’s great to play with,” Hayes said of O’Connor. “He flies around, he works hard, he’s very detailed and creates space. I think I’m a player who, when (I) have space, can make plays, so I think our games correlate with one another.”

Through 26 games played, the 32-year-old Hayes has six goals and three assists while averaging 10 minutes, 6 seconds of ice time.

“On the ice, he’s a big guy that can wear teams down low with the puck,” said defenseman Kris Letang. “(He’s) tough to contain in the low area of the (offensive) zone. And in our zone, he’s pretty reliable defensively. He’s always in a good spot. Been good for us.”

While Sullivan demonstrated willingness to yank Hayes from the lineup this season, with fellow forward Phil Tomasino currently sidelined by an injury, Hayes appears to have a good chance of continuing to suit up for now.

Whether Hayes can sustain his modest surge of offensive production remains to be seen.

To start the year, he scored goals in three of his first seven games, but from there managed only one over his next 15.

At any rate, to the Penguins’ benefit, Hayes’ better attibutes have been visible of late.

“He’s a good player,” Sullivan said. “Obviously, he’s got great offensive instincts. He can score goals. He can finish. He’s pretty good in the faceoff circle. He has poise with the puck. He doesn’t throw it away. He hangs onto it. He has good size. He’s strong. When he’s skating, I think he can be an effective player.”

Notes: After their Friday afternoon practice in Cranberry, Sullivan provided updates on injured forwards Evgeni Malkin and Tomasino. Malkin, who has missed the last two games with an unspecified injury, practiced in a limited capacity but remains day-to-day. Tomasino, designated to injured reserve Jan. 5 with an undisclosed ailment, skated individually ahead of the team session.