Where does Anthony Angello's brand of hockey fit with the Penguins?

Anthony Angello has a bold, albeit unimaginative, way of describing the way he performs.

“Playing ‘Anthony Angello hockey,’ ” the Pittsburgh Penguins’ power forward said. “Playing physical, winning my battles, being strong on the puck, getting under (opponents’) skin, winning the net-front, winning the walls, being smart with the puck and playing 200 feet, making sure I’m reliable on the offensive and defensive side of the puck.”

After a round of cuts Friday, the Penguins have 29 players on their training camp roster, including injured centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, each of whom are expected to miss the beginning of the season.

That leaves a handful of players, all forwards, who are duking it out for a job in the final days before the NHL requires teams to submit their season-opening roster.

In addition to Angello, Brian Boyle, Sam Lafferty, Drew O’Connor and Dominik Simon are trying to show their respective brands of hockey — however they might be labeled — are worthy of being included in the Penguins’ plans.

“It’s definitely not something I don’t take for granted,” Angello said. “I try to take it day by day, earn my spot each day and make sure I bring it. Nothing is given. Everything is earned. I think I’ve had a really good opportunity. I’m going to make sure I capitalize if I get another chance.”

In three games this preseason, Angello has one assist. So it’s difficult to say if he’s capitalized on the opportunities he’s been afforded so far.

But at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Anthony Angello’s hockey isn’t about production, at least not at the NHL level.

“Anthony’s game is obvious to everyone,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He’s a big presence on the ice, and he can really skate. When he brings a physical dimension, he plays a reliable trustworthy game. He’s good on the walls, he’s good defensively, he has good awareness and recognition skills. He checks hard. He can help us establish momentum just using his size and physicality on the forecheck, hanging onto pucks in the offensive zone, making it hard on our opponents forcing them to expend energy defending him. Things of that nature. That’s the game that Anthony needs to bring consistently.

“Anthony’s had some moments where he’s been pretty good in the camp. The biggest thing for young players like Anthony is just that level of consistency day in and day out.”

A fifth-round pick (No. 145 overall) in 2014, Angello has had a few cups of coffee at the NHL level the past two seasons. In 2019-20, he played in eight games and scored a single goal. Last season, as injuries and other factors pockmarked the NHL roster, Angello appeared in 18 of a possible 56 contests and collected four points (two goals, two assists).

“Coming in the first few (years of his career), I think you’re a little bit starstruck of the older guys, growing up watching (Crosby),” Angello said. “Now, coming in, I obviously have some NHL experience. We’re all working to the same goal, all working for the same thing here. It’s a business. You’ve got to come in, work hard and earn your spot.”

Given the absences of Crosby and Malkin as well as the uncertain statuses of forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Jake Guentzel after their recent positive tests for covid-19, there appears to be more than a few spots open among the team’s forward ranks, at least at the dawn of the season.

“There’s definitely an opportunity there for me,” the 25-year-old Angello said. “But I’ve got to go out there and prove it. I’ve got to go play ‘Anthony Angello hockey.’ ”

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