PITTSBURGH — The surging Pittsburgh Penguins should attempt to maintain their sizzling streak going with out defenseman Jeff Petry and ahead Jason Zucker.
The Penguins have positioned Petry on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body harm. Coach Mike Sullivan stated Wednesday the group expects Petry to be out for an prolonged interval.
Petry, signed as a free agent over the summer season, was injured throughout a 3-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. He’ll miss no less than 10 video games.
Zucker briefly left a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Monday evening within the second interval after blocking a shot. He returned to play within the third interval however was described as “week to week” by Sullivan.
The 30-year-old Zucker has had hassle staying wholesome for many of his two-plus seasons in Pittsburgh. Zucker has six objectives and 14 assists by means of 27 video games for the Penguins, who’re 13-2-2 over their final 17 video games heading right into a go to to Florida on Thursday evening to face the Panthers.
“Clearly, we really feel for Zuck, as a result of he is performed extraordinarily nicely for us this yr,” Sullivan stated. “He is lastly put a string of video games collectively the place he is been within the lineup for quite a few video games. It has been a battle since he is been a Penguin simply protecting them wholesome. So, we’re hopeful we’re not going to lose him too lengthy right here.”
The Panthers, final postseason’s No. 1 seed, have been struggling of late, however defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-0, on Tuesday evening and are averaging 3.4 objectives per recreation with the kind of offense that may expose a group lacking Petry.
The Related Press contributed to this report.