By the looks of Pittsburgh Penguins practice Monday, a valuable bottom-six forward appears on the cusp of returning to the lineup after an absence of several games.
Just in time for another prominent member of the bottom six to miss significant time.
Winger Brandon Tanev will miss action because of an upper-body injury suffered during Saturday’s loss to the Boston Bruins, coach Mike Sullivan said after practice Monday in Cranberry.
“ ‘Tans’ is going to be week to week,” Sullivan said.
The news soured the optimism generated by Teddy Blueger practicing fully for the second consecutive session. Blueger has missed the past 10 games because of an upper-body injury.
“It’s been pretty steady progress,” Blueger said in a video call with media after practice. “Heading in the right direction. It was great to be back out there with the guys and practicing with the full team. I do feel pretty good out there.”
When both were healthy, Blueger and Tanev typically were skating together on what was a highly effective bottom-six line for the Penguins this season.
Blueger rotated in on a fourth line during rushes at Monday’s practice.
At some point, injured forwards Teddy Blueger, Kasperi Kapanen and Evgeni Malkin will be back in the #Penguins’ lineup. https://t.co/j2Q0uRq5Tu
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 5, 2021
In other injury news, defenseman Mark Friedman also was a full participant. Friedman has not played since March 4 because of an upper-body injury.
Sullivan’s updates on the status of injured top six forwards Evgeni Malkin and Kasperi Kapanen were vague.
“ ‘Geno’ and ‘Kappy’ are still progressing with rehab off the ice,” Sullivan said. “They did not skate.”
In roster moves announced, forwards Radim Zohorna and Drew O’Connor were reassigned to the taxi squad. Zohora, though, practiced with the full squad Monday.
