It was a simple question. But Ryan Shea qualified his answer somewhat.
Can he eat?
“I can,” Shea said. “Today.”
Any issues the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman had with caloric intake were because of a presumed jaw injury he suffered during a 5-4 home shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
In the second period of that contest, he absorbed a high hit from rugged Jets forward Adam Lowry and left the contest. He attempted to return to open the third period wearing a full face shield but did not record a shift.
The injury led to him missing his first game of the season Sunday, a 5-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Shea rejoined the lineup Tuesday for a home engagement with the Colorado Avalanche. He opened the contest in his typical station on the left side of the third pairing with partner Connor Clifton.
“I feel good,” Shea said. “It’s just when it comes to the above-the-neck area, you want to be extra sure, especially the head. I was devastated to miss that last game. But in the long run, it probably was a good decision for me.
“I’m excited to get back. Should be a good test for us against the best team in the league. I’ll be ready to go.”
In addition to a visible grouping of stitches on his upper lip, Shea indicated he had stitches within his mouth along his jaw, though he did not identify the specific nature of his injury.
“Pretty much my whole face was swollen,” Shea said, with a slight slur because of his malady. “Jaw, neck area and obviously my mouth area. And when you get hit that hard by a guy that size, you want to make sure the head is all right. A lot of guys in this league can play through (injuries), whether it’s stitches or whatever the case may be. But the head is probably the one area you want to make sure is all good.”
Using a face shield isn’t a new convention for Shea as he donned one at the NCAA level with Northeastern. But it isn’t familiar.
“I haven’t done it since college,” Shea said. “It was really weird when I came out in the third period for the lap after I got hit. It felt like everything was pretty much a lot closer. It was a little weird. I haven’t worn it since college. I had some decent luck in college. So, hopefully, it brings back a little good mojo.”
Before being scratched Sunday, Shea had not missed a game this season, no small accomplishment for a player who waited eight years between being drafted (2015) and making his NHL debut (2023).
In fact, before his injury, Shea had the second-longest active consecutive games played streak on the team at 78 games, dating to last season.
“I didn’t miss a game in college,” Shea said. “I don’t think I missed a game in the (American Hockey League),either. I think it’s pretty cool when you can say you can play through (bad health). But I’ve never had a head injury in my life. I didn’t really know how to go about it or how to go after it. Luckily, I was all good from that and can come back sooner than later.
“But obviously, you want to play in every game. Me being in and out of the lineup the last two years, I thought it would be pretty special to play all 82 (games this season). But you’ve got to do what’s best for the team and your body, especially when you’re in a playoff race.”
Injury sidelines Malkin
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was scratched for Tuesday’s game because of an undisclosed injury. He has been labeled as day to day.
Coach Dan Muse indicated this is a separate injury from the left shoulder ailment that sidelined Malkin throughout December and January.
In Malkin’s absence, forward Anthony Mantha opened the game on the right wing of the second line.
“We’ve been doing it all year,” Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said in regard to prominent members of the team missing games this season. “We’ve had different guys go out, and everyone just steps up. We’ve got to continue that mentality.”
With Malkin hobbled, rookie forward Ville Koivunen was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL under emergency roster conditions. Koivunen opened Tuesday’s game on the left wing of the third line.
