Penguins defensemen Kris Letang, Chad Ruhwedel out against Devils

Pittsburgh Penguins defensemen Kris Letang and Chad Ruhwedel will be sidelined for Friday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena because of undisclosed injuries.

Following an optional morning skate, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan labeled Letang’s status as “day to day.” Ruhwedel was termed as “status quo” though the most recent status provided for him came Wednesday when Sullivan indicated he was being evaluated for an injury he suffered during a 5-1 road loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Letang has missed six games this season because of other ailments, including one contest in early November because of illness and five games in late November and early December because of a stroke.

In 29 games this campaign, Letang leads the team’s defensemen with 16 points (two goals, 14 assists). He also leads the team’s non-goaltenders in ice time as he clocks an average of 24 minutes, 32 seconds.

Ruhwedel has missed one game because of his ailment. He has appeared in 17 games this season and has one assist while averaging 13:10 of ice time.

The absences of Letang and Ruhwedel — as well as Jeff Petry, who has been on long-term injured reserve since Dec. 11 — have cratered the team’s depth among right-handed defensemen. The only able-bodied starboard defensemen remaining on the NHL roster are Jan Rutta and Mark Friedman.

One of the team’s left-handers — Brian Dumoulin, P.O Joseph, Marcus Pettersson or Ty Smith — presumably will have to play the right side in Friday’s game.

“There are some challenges playing your off side; there are some benefits,” Sullivan said. “I’m a big believer in having defensemen on their strong sides with the pressure of the game, the way it’s played today. I think a lot of the exchanges are a little bit easier, that’s all. But that’s not to say there’s some defensemen that are very comfortable on the off side, and they thrive there. The good news is we have some guys that have played their off sides and are comfortable playing their off sides. There are subtle details with exchanges, whether it’s with a neutral zone counter or on our breakouts. There are definitely adjustments there.

“I’ve coached guys that like to play their off side and prefer it. Other guys, not so much. We try to take all those things into consideration when we’re making those decisions on what our pairs end up inevitably looking like.”

Ruhwedel and Petry skated prior to the morning skate with assistant coach Ty Hennes.

Notes:

• The Penguins are slated to start goaltender Tristan Jarry on Friday. In 23 games this season, Jarry has a 14-5-5 record, a 2.77 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and one shutout.

Throughout his career, Jarry has appeared in 10 games against the Devils and has a 6-3-1 record, a 2.93 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

• Smith is scheduled to make his debut for the Penguins. Acquired via trade with the Devils in July, Smith has spent the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League until being recalled Wednesday.

In 26 AHL games this season, Smith, 22, has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists).

• Those who attended the Penguins’ optional morning skate included:

Forwards — Drake Caggiula, Drew O’Connor, Poehling

Defensemen — Friedman, Smith

Goaltender — Casey DeSmith

• Dumoulin is scheduled to appear in his 500th career game.

• Penguins forwards Danton Heinen and Kasperi Kapanen each have 99 career assists.

• The Devils are expected to start goaltender Vitek Vanecek. In 23 games this season, Vanecek has a 12-5-2 record, a 2.39 GAA, a .910 save percentage and two shutouts.

Throughout his career, Vanecek has faced the Penguins in eight games and has a 3-1-3 record, a 3.08 GAA and a .900 save percentage.

• Former Penguins defenseman John Marino will not be in the lineup for the Devils. Acquired from the Penguins in the trade that involved Smith, Marino currently is designated to injured reserve with an undisclosed ailment that has sidelined him for the past three games.

• Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton has 399 career points.

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