Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz remains sidelined
PHILADELPHIA — Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz will remain sidelined for Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.
Schultz was in Pittsburgh — or Cranberry, to be specific — and skated with with skill coach Ty Hennes a day after he participated in practice with his teammates for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him since Dec. 17.
With the Penguins embarking on an eight-day break following Tuesday’s game because of a combination of the All-Star Game event and their own bye in the schedule, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan indicated the team wanted to exercise caution in bringing Schultz back to the lineup.
“That’s one of the factors that we weighed into it, for sure,” Sullivan said. “When we’re trying to make the decision of a player returning from injury and returning to play, the safety of the player is the priority, first and foremost. Our medical staff does a real good job at advising the player and us of when that opportune time is. Based on where Justin is at, we feel this is in the best interest of him and the team.”
According to Sullivan, Schultz and forward Nick Bjugstad, sidelined with a core muscle injury since Nov. 15, each skated with Hennes on Tuesday.
“Nick’s making progress,” Sullivan said. “Both of them are skating back at home right now, with (Hennes). Obviously, we’re hopeful they’ll be making significant progress here. After the break, we’re hopeful we’ll get them back in a fairly timely fashion.”
Notes:
• The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry, according to Sullivan.
Jarry, who was named to participate in this weekend’s All-Star Game event in St. Louis, has appeared in 24 games this season and has a 16-7-1 record along with a 2.16 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and three shutouts.
• Forward Joseph Blandisi, recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Monday for the seventh time this season, figures to be a healthy scratch. He and reserve defenseman Kevin Czcuzman were the only non-goaltenders who skated at the Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday morning. That typically indicates an impending scratch.
• Having missed 13 games this season because of injury, Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is no threat to set any new career highs in goals or points.
But he is in line to establish new career-bests in faceoffs. Entering Tuesday’s game, he had won 50.6% of his draws this season (321 of 635).
Over his 14-year career, Malkin never has been in the black in that category. His best season came in 2013-14, when he won 48.8% of his draws (303 of 621).
He was forced to take more draws during forward Sidney Crosby’s two-plus months convalescence because of a core muscle injury and, perhaps for the first time as an NHLer, made them a point of emphasis.
“When Sid was out, (Malkin) was terrific in the faceoff circle,” Sullivan said. “I wish I knew the reason why. I think it’s because he just started to value the importance of it. He realized the benefit of winning faceoffs and how it could help his overall game. (Malkin) is so capable. He’s such a talented player. He’s capable in every aspect of the game. Give him a lot of credit. … He’s come to the realization that this is an important aspect of the game, and if (he) can be good at it, it’s going to help (his) line. He’s been been much better at it.”
• The Flyers are expected to start goaltender Brian Elliott. In 23 games this season, Elliott has an 11-5-3 record along with a 3.03 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
• Flyers forward Michael Raffl will be sidelined because of a suspected neck or shoulder ailment.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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