Jesse Puljujarvi on Saturday played his first game since Nov. 23, ending a stretch of healthy scratches. He skated on the right side of the Penguins' third line next to Michael Bunting and Blake Lizotte in the Penguins' 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs and recorded two hits and an even plus/minus in 11:15. The Penguins were outshot 4-2 when he was on the ice at five-on-five, and trailed 12-8 in shot attempts.
"Personally, I felt terrible," Puljujarvi said about his play. "I didn't feel good. I just tried to work hard and tried to play smart."
Puljujarvi clarified that by feeling terrible, he doesn't mean that he felt bad physically. He felt terrible about his play. "I didn't play well," he said. "I didn't feel good. Hopefully I can play good hockey again at some point."
I asked Puljujarvi if he felt he played poorly defensively or if it was more so the lack of offense he was unhappy with, and he said it was "everything."
"I didn't feel good out there," he said. "But we get the job done. So I'm happy about that, but hopefully I can help the team more."
Puljujarvi said he hopes that it was just a matter of needing time to readjust to game action again after having that long of a stretch without playing. Monday's line combinations were unchanged from Saturday's game, so signs are pointing to Puljujarvi getting another opportunity on Tuesday against the Avalanche at PPG Paints Arena.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
2:08 pm - 12.09.2024Cranberry, Pa.Puljujarvi 'felt terrible' in return to lineup
Jesse Puljujarvi on Saturday played his first game since Nov. 23, ending a stretch of healthy scratches. He skated on the right side of the Penguins' third line next to Michael Bunting and Blake Lizotte in the Penguins' 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs and recorded two hits and an even plus/minus in 11:15. The Penguins were outshot 4-2 when he was on the ice at five-on-five, and trailed 12-8 in shot attempts.
"Personally, I felt terrible," Puljujarvi said about his play. "I didn't feel good. I just tried to work hard and tried to play smart."
Puljujarvi clarified that by feeling terrible, he doesn't mean that he felt bad physically. He felt terrible about his play. "I didn't play well," he said. "I didn't feel good. Hopefully I can play good hockey again at some point."
I asked Puljujarvi if he felt he played poorly defensively or if it was more so the lack of offense he was unhappy with, and he said it was "everything."
"I didn't feel good out there," he said. "But we get the job done. So I'm happy about that, but hopefully I can help the team more."
Puljujarvi said he hopes that it was just a matter of needing time to readjust to game action again after having that long of a stretch without playing. Monday's line combinations were unchanged from Saturday's game, so signs are pointing to Puljujarvi getting another opportunity on Tuesday against the Avalanche at PPG Paints Arena.
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