Pittsburgh Penguins Injury Report: Healthy Bodies on the Way Back
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ injury situation once again took another big step in the wrong direction after it was announced that centre Evgeni Malkin, who has arguably been the team’s best player this season, will miss time with a lower-body injury.
Malkin missed last night’s contest against the Chicago Blackhawks, and is set to miss the All-Star weekend as well. General Manager Jim Rutherford stated today that Malkin will need some time following the break to heal up as well, meaning Geno could be in for a bit of an extended absence, though the general sense is that the injury is not too serious.
Defenseman Kris Letang was also a game-time scratch from the Pens’ match-up with the Blackhawks, but it seems Letang’s absence could be a shorter one.
The former Norris trophy nominee reportedly experienced some concussion-like symptoms following a dirty hit-from-behind from Flyers pest Zac Rinaldo, but Letang was able to participate in the Pens’ pre-game skate before the Chicago tilt.
He is currently undergoing further concussion testing, but hasn’t been diagnosed with one as of yet, suggesting he could be ready to go after the extended break of the All-Star weekend.
That being said, the team has stated that they intend to be cautious with Letang due to his injury history, so he could be in line to sit for a while longer for precautionary reasons.
Letang has posted 32 points in 40 games thus far this season, emerging as the Pens unequivocal leader on the blue line.
The Pens look to be getting two other key contributors back soon after the All-Star break as well, as Rutherford stated recently that forwards Patric Hornqvist and Blake Comeau will both undergo x-rays later this week to determine their progress in returning from their respective injuries.
Rutherford suggested both forwards could begin skating soon and could make their returns shortly after the All-Star weekend wraps up.
The two wingers would certainly be well-received as both were crucial in the Pens’ early-season dominance. Hornqvist posted 13 goals and 29 points in 33 games playing primarily alongside captain Sidney Crosby, while Comeau recorded 11 goals and 19 points in 32 games himself alongside Evgeni Malkin.
With the addition of talented winger David Perron, the return of Hornqvist and Comeau will give the Pens the most elite group of wingers they’ve suited up since the Crosby and Malkin era began.
Defenseman Simon Despres, who missed the last two contests due to an illness, seems set to return soon as well following the opportunity for rest provided by the All-Star break.
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