(TNS) —It’s probably much easier to pull off in Game 71 of a season as opposed to Game 7 Especially when you’re in your first season with a team.

And it doesn’t happen without plenty of hard work.

During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 6-3 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on March 21, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk connected with forward Sidney Crosby on a dazzling deflection goal that requires plenty of timing, acumen and familiarity to accomplish.

Corralling a turnover by Blue Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson at the center point of Columbus’ zone, Grzelcyk advanced toward the slot a bit before firing a forehand shot/ pass to the right of the crease just slightly.

Reading Grzelcyk’s intentions like a librarian, Crosby showed the forehand of his stick blade and deflected the puck by the left skate of goaltender Elvis Merzlkins on the near side.

The nature of that remarkable display was no accident.

‘We’ve practiced those before,’ Grzelcyk said the next day in Cranberry. ‘We’ve tried them in the past. If they don’t work out, he comes in the next day and he wants to do 20, 50 reps at it just to get it right. That chemistry builds over time. He’s just such a smart guy. His hockey IQ is through the roof. He knows when to go and when to flare off for a one-timer. It’s amazing what he can do.’

What Grzelcyk has done in his first season with the Penguins isn’t too shabby either.

Having skated in all 74 of the team’s games, he has posted a career-high 35 points (one goal, 34 assists) while averaging 20:27 of ice time, also a high-water mark over his nine seasons in the NHL.

Not too bad for a player on a bad team who was jettisoned by his previous employer after a difficult 2023-24 campaign.

The Penguins took a chance on the left-handed Grzelcyk, who was cut loose as a free agent by his hometown Bruins last summer.

On July 1, the native of Charlestown, Mass., signed a one-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.75 million.

Entering his first season with the Penguins, he was seeking something far more profound than an ample payday or inflated statistics. ‘Honestly, going into this year, I didn’t want to have any specific goals in mind,’ Grzelcyk said. ‘I just wanted to regain confidence and get back to (being) the player that I’ve established myself the last couple of years. Last season, I got away from that and maybe worrying a little too much being my last year in Boston (with his previous contract). This year, I just wanted to come in with no expectation, and I’ve gotten a really good opportunity here to earn some ice time.’

He has largely served as a companion to right-handed All-Star defensemen such as Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.

‘He’s a solid player,’ said Karlsson, Grzelcyk’s more regular partner in five-on-five play. ‘He has been for a long time. Obviously, played under a good program in Boston for the majority of his career. He’s an easy guy to understand out there. He has a good hockey IQ.’

Grzelcyk has clearly maximized that opportunity. And with his satisfactory play as well as his contractual status as a pending unrestricted free agent, it was fair to wonder if Penguins management — in the midst of acquiring future assets — would deal Grzelcyk away at the trade deadline on March 7.

But to some surprise, including his, he remained.

‘I knew coming into the year, being on a one-year deal, that anything can happen, especially with the state of the team,’ said the 31-year-old. ‘I know if parts are going to move, I would probably be one of the guys that might be on the move. But I’m really happy to still be here. I’ve enjoyed my time here very much. I’m really thankful to not be going

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Matt Grzelcyk to a new team midseason and getting to stay with a great group of guys here.”

Whether Grzelcyk remains part of that group past this upcoming summer is anyone’s guess. He could potentially convert his strong season into a lucrative multi-year contract with any team.

But his desired destination is clear.

“I would love to be here,” Grzelcyk said. “We have (eight) games left. My only focus is obviously trying to win every game but trying to leave a good impression as well. Kind of, it feels like a little bit of a tryout in order to hopefully earn a contract here next year.”

Note: The Penguins had a scheduled day off Friday.