The mystery of the Penguins recalling both forward Drew O’Connor and defenseman Mark Friedman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was cleared up when the Pens took the ice for morning skate yesterday.
Not only was defenseman Jeff Petry absent after being placed on long-term injured reserve with an upper body injury, often-injured forward Jason Zucker was missing as well.
Coach Mike Sullivan said Zucker is “week-to-week” with a lower body injury after he appeared to injure himself blocking a shot in the second period on Monday night against Dallas. He did return to the ice for the third period. Danton Heinen skated in Zucker’s spot on the second line yesterday.
Sullivan said the loss of Zucker is big because Penguins fans are only now getting to see the type of hockey he is capable of.
Sullivan says Petry is also a big loss because he is so versatile, but again, it’s an opportunity for young guys like P.O. Joseph.
Neither Petry nor Zucker will require surgery, and both remained in Pittsburgh when the Penguins flew to Miami for tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers.
With the Penguins’ frenzied early season schedule now easing up, Sullivan said yesterday that he will have to work more on his goaltender rotation. With so many back-to-back games to start the year, Casey DeSmith had plenty of playing time to stay sharp. Now, Tristan Jarry will have a chance to play regularly but Sullivan says he needs to keep DeSmith sharp, and that can only happen in game action.
The Penguins and Panthers face off at 7 o’clock tonight, with the pregame on 92.5 FM U92 and the U92 Sportschannel at 6.
Comments