Penguins Prospect Impressing Team and Coaches, ‘Doing My Job’ (+)

CRANBERRY  — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany has progressed from just hoping not to fall on his pregame rookie lap to earning praise and more playing time from coach Mike Sullivan.

It’s a nice progression for the solidly built and steady stay-home defenseman who has a prized gift among defensemen: a right-handed stick.

“We’ve really liked this game. He’s a mobile guy, defends really well, he’s got a good stick, (and) he’s been helpful in the penalty kill. He thinks the game pretty well,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s defending the rush particularly well with his mobility and his stick. We’ve liked his game. That’s why we’ve kept him in the lineup. He’s a guy who’s worked extremely hard to get to this point and is helping us, so we’re really pleased with his progress.

“We’ll see where it goes.”

Sullivan isn’t one to dole out too much praise, especially for a young player who has not yet played five NHL games, but the coach’s words don’t matter as much as his actions.

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