NEW YORK -- The Penguins' 4-3 triple-overtime Game 1 win in New York on Tuesday took 105 minutes and 58 seconds.
Managing the minutes of the Penguins' forwards throughout the game was made all the more challenging with the loss of one of their key forwards just 18:41 into the game.
The Penguins lost Rickard Rakell to injury after this high hit from Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren:
Rakell stayed down on the ice for several minutes as he was attended to by Penguins athletic trainer Chris Stewart. Rakell was able to skate off to the Penguins locker room with help from Sidney Crosby and Mike Matheson, but seemed weak and unsteady on his feet as he made his way across the ice. Rakell didn't return to the ice for the remainder of the game.
Mike Sullivan didn't have an update on Rakell following the game, saying that he was still being evaluated for his undisclosed injury.
It's tough to say whether Lindgren may receive any sort of supplemental discipline from the league for his hit.
The call on the ice was a five-minute major for charging. Major penalties are automatically reviewed, with officials having the option to either uphold the initial call or reduce the call to a minor penalty. After video review, the officials reduced the call to a two-minute minor for roughing.
Given that the officials reviewed and reduced the call in-game, it would be an interesting move by the league to then later escalate the punishment to either a fine or suspension after the fact, even if it may be warranted.
Sullivan had some words for the officials from the bench when the decision was made, clearly in disagreement with the penalty being reduced to a roughing minor. Sullivan said after the game that officials did speak with him regarding the decision.
"I did receive an explanation, I'm not going to share it publicly," he said. "But I guess in their view, they didn't think it was a major."
If Rakell is unable to play in Thursday's Game 2, there are two possibilities for who may take his spot in the lineup: Jason Zucker and Drew O'Connor.
Zucker skated on his own before Monday's practice and Tuesday's optional morning skate, then joined several teammates for the optional skate. Sullivan said after Tuesday's skate that Zucker still hadn't been cleared for contact.
Initially, Sullivan said that he'd expect both Zucker and Tristan Jarry to miss the first "couple games" of the series. When Zucker skated Monday, Sullivan said that it was possible that Zucker's timeline could be "accelerated" as a result.
On Tuesday, Sullivan was asked if Zucker is definitely out for these first two games of the series, and he left open the possibility that Zucker could come back as early as Game 2.
"I wouldn't say that," Sullivan said. "He's out for tonight."
If both Rakell and Zucker are unable to play on Thursday, it'd be O'Connor getting the opportunity. If he plays, it would be his first NHL game since Jan. 15 in San Jose, when he suffered a reported collapsed lung.
The Penguins changed their scheduled practice on Wednesday from a full practice to an optional session at 1:30 p.m.. We should get some clarity then on both Rakell and Zucker.
