In most cases, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is usually hesitant to discuss any matters involving supplemental discipline decisions by the NHL.

Tuesday was not one of those cases.

Sullivan vented frustration a day after the team announced defensive center Teddy Blueger would be sidelined six to eight weeks following surgery for the fractured jaw he sustained on a high hit by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon.

The check occurred at 11:03 of the first period during the Penguins’ 3-2 home shootout win Sunday at PPG Paints Arena. Dillon’s left shoulder struck Blueger’s face, causing his head to strike the glass on Winnipeg’s end boards.

There was no penalty on the play nor has the league issued any supplemental discipline.

On Tuesday, Sullivan offered a pretty detailed response when asked if he was surprised the NHL did not take action with regards to supplemental discipline.

“The short answer to your questions is yes, I was surprised,” Sullivan said. “When I read the rule book and I watch the hit, for me, it’s the letter of the law. For me, the main point of contact was his head. Hence, a broken jaw.

“Points in consideration: Unnecessary extension of the body upward and outward. It appeared to me that took place. … For me, my understanding of the rule in watching the hit is very different than the way the league saw it. But it’s not my call.”

A request for comment from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety was not returned.

Notes:

• With Blueger sidelined upwards of two months potentially, the Penguins will likely turn to veteran forward Brian Boyle to inherit many of the defensive assignments Blueger typically inhabits.

“Brian is very capable,” Sullivan said. “He understands what his role is. He’s a real sound positional player. He’s pretty good on the faceoffs, he’s a good shot blocker, he’s hard to play against. He has good awareness defensively and I think he can help us fill that void. Certainly, we’ve used him there a fair amount there through some of the injuries that we’ve had at the center ice position all season when we were injured (with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin). Once again, our depth is going to get challenged. I believe we have the depth to continue to find ways to win games. Brian is going to be one of those guys we rely on.”

A 14-year veteran, Boyle has largely existed in the NHL for such a long time based on his stout defensive play.

“We just have to do what we’re supposed to do,” Boyle said.” It’s put out in front of us how to defend. We have a system in place. (Blueger is) obviously a huge part of that as a penalty killer. He anchors that (fourth) line that often nights goes and tries to defend against (opposing) team’s top lines, especially (defensive) zone starts. Other guys are going to have a chance to do that. You have to embrace that challenge and have pride in it.”

• In advance of Tuesday’s home game against the Arizona Coyotes, the Penguins’ lines and pairings were:

59 Jake Guentzel - 87 Sidney Crosby – 17 Bryan Rust

43 Danton Heinen - 71 Evgeni Malkin – 42 Kasperi Kapanen

23 Brock McGinn – 77 Jeff Carter – 9 Evan Rodrigues

12 Zach Aston-Reese – 11 Brian Boyle – 49 Domink Simon

8 Brian Dumoulin – 58 Kris Letang

28 Marcus Pettersson – 6 John Marino

5 Mike Matheson – 2 Chad Ruhwedel

The top power-play unit included Crosby, Guentzel, Letang, Malkin and Rust. The second power-play unit involved Carter, Heinen, Kapanen, Marino and Rodrigues.

• The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Tristan Jarry. In 33 games this season, Jarry has a 22-7-4 record, a 2.09 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and three shutouts.

Jarry has played the second-most games this season among NHL goaltenders, trailing only Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators (35).

• The Coyotes are slated to start rookie goaltender Karel Vejmelka. In 24 games this season, Vajmelka has a 6-15-1 record, a 3.28 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and one shutout.

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