Scott Wilson applying lessons learned from Penguins’ vets down stretch
Scott Wilson has been a chameleon for the Penguins this season. He鈥檚 played on the top line, slid down into a checking role and even logged some time on the power play, blending in wherever he鈥檚 been needed.
Though he鈥檚 been used in different ways, it seems like he鈥檚 still in search of the perfect fit. He might have found it on Sunday during the Penguins鈥� 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, as he was part of an effective fourth line with Carter Rowney and Josh Archibald.
The line was formed after it was announced that Chris Kunitz, who has been a bit of a chameleon himself this season, would be out of the lineup with a longer-term, lower-body injury.
Wilson might not have the NHL pedigree of Kunitz, but he brings many of the same tools. He moves well, isn鈥檛 afraid to go to the front of the net, has some offensive upside and he isn鈥檛 shy about throwing his body around.
He showed a little of all of that Sunday, finishing the game with a goal, a plus-1 rating, two shots and four hits. That stat line wasn鈥檛 all that dissimilar to those that Kunitz has put together over the years.
That鈥檚 not a coincidence.
鈥淚 think kind of all year I鈥檝e just tried to watch a guy like (Kunitz) and (Patric Hornqvist),鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淗ow they play in the offensive zone and try to model myself after those guys.鈥�
Hornqvist and Kunitz have made a living in front of the net and rank first and second on the team in hits with 219 and 216, respectively. Wilson ranks third with 163.
He isn鈥檛 just a physical presence. He showed his offensive potential in the American Hockey League, but it hasn鈥檛 revealed itself in the NHL yet.
The 24-year-old scored 41 goals and 77 points in 90 AHL games, which includes 22 goals and 36 points in just 34 games last season before being called up to Pittsburgh.
He鈥檚 only managed to score 13 goals and 30 points in 99 NHL games, and has scored eight in goals and 16 assists in 74 games this season.
Those are impressive numbers considering that this is his first full NHL season. He played in 24 games last season and impressed by scoring four goals over a five-game stretch in February, but his season came to a screeching halt on March 11 when he went down with a lower-body injury.
His goal Sunday came on a blue-collar play with the game tied 1-1. Wilson went hard to the net to put away a rebound. He pushed it to the net once and Carolina goaltender Eddie Lack made the save, but managed to stay with it.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what good teams have that help them continue to win,鈥� coach Mike Sullivan said of the goal. 鈥淚 thought our fourth line was really good all night. Not just the fact they scored, but that they brought us a lot of energy.
鈥淔or me when guys step up at different times and different people make contributions each and every night, that鈥檚 a sign of a competitive team.鈥�
Injuries are never a good thing, but losing Kunitz might have opened a door for Wilson to show exactly what he can do at this level. It isn鈥檛 always easy to open eyes when a player is getting between nine and 11 minutes of ice time per game, but it鈥檚 possible.
Especially if you utilize those minutes to contribute to a win at home with the team competing for home-ice advantage in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
鈥淔or us it鈥檚 the detailed stuff right now, being able to close out late in the game,鈥� Wilson said Sunday. 鈥淭onight is really big, and that鈥檚 what we need to work on heading forward to the playoffs.鈥�
Sullivan has shown that he鈥檒l reward effort and hard work, so Wilson can continue to earn playing time with ongoing efforts like Sunday. He needs to continue showing the physical side of his game while also continuing to develop on offense. If he does that he鈥檒l continue to help his team win, and thus get more opportunities.