Evan Rodrigues wasn't guaranteed a spot on the major-league roster when he reported to training camp last month.
But when the Penguins opened the season Tuesday night in Tampa, he was the Penguins' second-line center because Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are recovering from offseason surgeries.
And when the Penguins face the Blackhawks tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena, he will get another unexpected promotion: He will work the left side/point on the No. 1 power-play.
This opportunity came along because defenseman Mike Matheson, a candidate to join that unit, will miss his third consecutive game because of an unspecified lower-body injury and Bryan Rust will not play because of an unspecified injury sustained in the third period of a 5-4 overtime loss at Florida Thursday.