Mark Madden: No reason to complain about Penguins at Christmas break

The Penguins started their Christmas break last Saturday. Unfortunately, they also played that night at Vancouver. What a dastardly performance in a 4-1 loss.

But, as we await the Penguins’ re-emergence Friday at Nashville, fans of the team have little complaint. Despite being beset by a hailstorm of injuries, including one that has sidelined their best player since Nov. 9, the Penguins are 21-11-4, five points clear in the wild-card chase and just three points out of second place in the Metro Division.

The Penguins aren’t home free. But Sidney Crosby’s return seems imminent. My educated guess is Jan. 2 or Jan. 5. Both games are at home. That gives him time to test his injury against the speed of practice. No sense in rushing things.

When Crosby returns, who skates on his line?

Crosby’s usual sidekick, winger Jake Guentzel, hasn’t broken stride in Crosby’s absence. Guentzel has 37 points in 36 games, and, if we didn’t already know Guentzel was great in his own right and not just a Crosby tag-along, that’s been reaffirmed.

Guentzel has been on Malkin’s left wing in Crosby’s absence. But Guentzel has to go back with Crosby. Bryan Rust (13 goals in 22 games) can stay on Malkin’s right and continue his incredible mid-career transition into Mike Bossy.

Coach Mike Sullivan believes in duos, not trios, so that fits his thinking. Whoever slots in with either of those combinations should prosper (and feel fortunate).

But it can’t be Dominik Simon (two goals in 36 games). The analytics-driven notion of him playing top six should be wadded up and tossed in a waste can. (Here’s betting it’s not.)

One more disclaimer: Keep Jared McCann at center. He’s better there than at wing. If that makes Nick Bjugstad a scratch when he returns from injury, so be it. (Teddy Blueger’s speed and penalty killing make him the fourth-line center in perpetuity.)

When Justin Schultz returns, who gets more minutes: Schultz or John Marino?

Marino will replace Schultz in the top four at season’s end when Schultz walks via free agency. That’s a lock. But perhaps it happens now.

That’s no knock on Schultz, who has been effective during his Pittsburgh tenure. But he’s sitting out his second significant stretch injured this season. He played only 29 games last season. Schultz is losing an important ability: availability.

Meantime, Marino is a revelation. He never puts a skate wrong. He’s got a loaded skill set and a calm, measured approach that belies his status as a first-year pro.

Maybe Sullivan splits the difference. Perhaps Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin (upon his return) comprise the top pair, and duties below are divided relatively equally.

Goaltending has become the simplest thing to talk about. There is zero debate.

Tristan Jarry leads the NHL in everything: goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. How could Sullivan even consider giving Matt Murray anything besides one game when the Penguins play on back-to-back nights?

Things can change fast, as they did during the transition from Murray to Jarry.

But Jarry would have to struggle mightily for an extended period, and Murray would have to recapture whatever it is he lost. (The consensus is he’s making himself small by sitting too deep in the blue paint.)

Murray did himself no favors when he allowed four goals on 14 shots at Vancouver. He didn’t stink, but Murray came nowhere close to matching Jarry’s recent efforts. Jarry has stolen games, most recently Dec. 17 at Calgary when his 16-save first period paved the way for a 4-1 victory. Murray hasn’t had a game like that this season.

Murray might be frustrated. But he’s the only one. Jarry playing great isn’t a problem for anyone but Murray.

Right now, there’s no need for Murray’s talent to be coaxed back to its former level of performance. Has management lost faith in Murray? That might tie into what Murray wants on his next contract, due at season’s end. As previously noted in this space, management might feel Murray is asking for too much.

But don’t count Murray out. Talent always wins. But Jarry has talent, too.