CALGARY, Alberta -- It was one of those plays that could have gone either way.
When Dominik Simon threw a no-look, backhanded pass in front of the Edmonton net, it was either going to find Patric Hornqvist driving for the net ... or it likely would have resulted in an Oilers' odd-man break the other way.
Fortunately for Simon and the Penguins, the puck bounced off the shaft of Kris Russell's stick and right to Hornqvist, who scored his first goal of the season midway through the second period of Tuesday night's wild 6-5 overtime win over the Oilers:
In a game filled with superstars making highlight reel-worthy plays, Simon's pass may have been the second-prettiest play behind a certain game-winning goal from Sidney Crosby.
Simon better have enjoyed every moment of that assist, though. After the second period, he didn't play another shift (and neither did Daniel Sprong). Simon's night ended after playing a season-low 4:19, or 4:57 less than his season average. Sprong played just 3:37.
Following Wednesday's practice, Mike Sullivan confirmed that he shortened his bench to put out the players who he thought gave the "best chance to win" in what had been a one-goal, see-saw game. Obviously, that didn't include Simon. Those who did play included eight players with fewer points than him, though.
"I think Dom's been good at times," was Sullivan's assessment when I asked. "He's a very good playmaker. He's strong on the puck for a guy who's not overly big. There have been times when he's been very effective."
In coach-speak, that is what's called some tough love.
Obviously, Simon hasn't found a consistency in his game this season and Tuesday could serve as a teachable moment. His seven shots this season are the second-fewest among all Pittsburgh forwards -- only Sprong has fewer with three -- and his possession numbers aren't good either. He has a dreadful 37.49 Corsi For percentage, compared to 54.8 in 2017-18.
But the 24-year-old Czech says he understands why he wasn't called on and what he has to do to assure that he is in the future. Perhaps no one holds a more tenuous spot in the lineup. He doesn't have Sprong's pedigree or the contract status of Derick Brassard, Bryan Rust or Riley Sheahan. And, as Tuesday showed, he also doesn't have the full trust of Sullivan and the coaching staff to be used in crucial situations.
Simon says he feels he's a better, more confident player now than he was a year ago when he was initially called up in early December. The issue, as it is for a lot of young players, is his play without the puck.
"I've improved on the defensive side," Simon was telling me Wednesday. "I'm thinking defense first and I feel good about it. So I'm trying to build on that. And trying to add goals and assists, and making some plays."
As Sullivan suggested, the offensive side seems to come a little more naturally to Simon. He showed decent promise in 33 games last season, recording four goals and eight assists while seeing some time on Crosby's line. That, in part, is why he was paired -- at least for two periods on Tuesday -- with Brassard and Hornqvist on the third line. However, the trio combined for one shot attempt for (Hornqvist's goal) and six against. How much longer that line stays intact remains to be seen.
"It was great. Unreal players, both of them," Simon said.
He says he's hoping to build off that assist Tuesday and take it into Thursday night's game against the Flames. After shuttling between Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre last season, the NHL is where he wants to stay.
"It's really nice to be here," he said, "to feel like part of the group."
• The Penguins held a brief 35-minute practice Wednesday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome where they'll face the Flames tomorrow night at 9:08 p.m.
• Brassard did not take the ice with what Sullivan called a maintenance day. The third-line center picked up the secondary assist on Crosby's OT winner for just his second point of the season — and first since scoring a goal in the season opener against Washington, when he had six shots on goal. Brassard had two shots on goal against the Oilers, doubling his total over the previous five games.
• With Brassard out, Derek Grant centered the third line in practice. Grant and Chad Ruhwedel have been healthy scratches for all seven games so far.
• A day later, Sullivan -- and most of Canada -- was still gushing about Crosby's highlight-reel game-winner. The coach said it personified Crosby's talent, determination and ability to protect the puck down low. "I think it's one of the best goals I've ever seen," Sullivan said. "I can't remember seeing a highlight-reel goal like that one in a long time."
• Carl Hagelin's only surprise about being called for a faceoff violation late in the third period of a tied game on Tuesday night was that they called a penalty at all, not when it was called. "I didn't do anything," he said Wednesday. "It doesn't matter when it is." Hagelin reported that the linesman, Trent Knorr, even seemed surprised that the penalty was being enforced after Evgeni Malkin had already been thrown out of the circle. After giving up two power-play goals earlier in the third period, the Penguins killed off the two-minute penalty to force overtime.
• After Jack Johnson was on the ice for all five of the Oilers' goals, Sullivan gave the veteran defenseman a vote of confidence. Johnson needs to close his gaps more and be more aggressive down low, using his size and strength, according to the coach. "I think Jack's been fine," Sullivan said. "He plays a lot of minutes for us. He's playing against other team's top players. We put him in difficult circumstances in a lot of situations."
• Here were Wednesday's lines and pairs:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
Hagelin-Malkin-Kessel
Simon-Grant-Hornqvist
Cullen-Sheahan-Sprong
Dumoulin-Letang
Johnson-Riikola
Maatta-Oleksiak
(Ruhwedel)
