Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel labeled as 'game-time' decisions for Thursday

Marcus Pettersson was limited in what he could do physically during his recently completed 10-day isolation after testing positive for covid-19.

A highly intensive workout suitable for a professional athlete was out of the question. Even relatively light activities were a bit of a challenge.

But he did find something to get his heart rate up a few beats.

“Went for a lot of walks with my dog,” Pettersson said.

And?

“Watched a lot of hockey.”

Fellow defenseman Chad Ruhwedel’s 10-day respite was a bit more harrowing.

He tried to avoid his family in order to avoid passing the virus to them.

“Definitely, having a family at home, a wife and young boy, that was a challenge, for sure, hearing them running around (upstairs),” Ruhwedel said. “Quarantining in the same house is not ideal for anybody. Hard on them, hard on me. But we got through it.”

Initially placed into the NHL’s protocol for covid-19 on Oct. 31, both players have gotten through their isolation periods and participated in a practice session on Wednesday in Cranberry. Primarily working as a “fourth” pairing, Pettersson and Ruhwedel were labeled as a “game-time decision” by assistant coach Todd Reirden for Thursday’s home game against the Florida Panthers.

Both players reported feeling relatively well following Wednesday’s practice.

“I felt good (Wednesday),” Pettersson said. “Still feel it a little bit. I haven’t talked to the medical staff or the doctors yet. So we’ll see how that goes. We’re taking it day by day here. I felt way better today than I did (Tuesday) and the day before that. Hopefully, I feel good this afternoon. See how the body reacts from having a longer skate with the team.”

“I skated (Tuesday) and (Wednesday),” Ruhwedel said. “Both (days) went well. Still have to talk to the training staff and coaches and whatnot. So we’ll see where that goes. The hardest thing is just kind of getting your legs back under you. It’s all about those first couple of shifts when you do finally get back in. Just kind of getting your mind and body back into it. So there’s no time to waste.”

While each player reported having similar symptoms with regard to a loss of taste and smell as well as congestion, Pettersson indicated he experienced other woes as well.

“I had congestion in my nose,” Pettersson said. “A sore throat early on. Loss of taste and smell. I had some muscle aches, like lower back. But it wasn’t too bad. I had some cold symptoms. It was early on, and I got better every day that it went on. Hopefully, that continues for sure.”

The Penguins are hoping for continued progress with regard to forward Sidney Crosby, defenseman Brian Dumoulin and coach Mike Sullivan as they remain in isolation after also testing positive. Crosby and Sullivan have experienced symptoms, and Dumoulin is said to be asymptomatic.

Reirden indicated all three are “nearing the end” of their time in isolation but did not offer any specific dates. Crosby and Dumoulin were placed into the NHL’s protocol on Nov. 3 while Sullivan began isolating one day later.

The Penguins have had a total of eight players (in addition to Sullivan) test positive for covid-19. In contrast, they have said no players tested positive for the virus throughout the 2020-21 campaign.

Their struggles with covid-19 this season have come despite enhanced measures that were implemented during training camp after forwards Zach Aston-Reese and Jake Guentzel tested positive. Up until that point, the Penguins tested every three days, as outlined by the NHL’s protocols. Since then, they have opted to test every player, coach and staffer on a daily basis.

“To say it’s frustrating is an understatement,” Ruhwedel said of the team’s difficulties with the virus. “I think all the guys on the team are doing a really good job of being smart. Still living our lives but being smart about it. We’re doing everything right at the rink, too. The fact that it is still getting to the team is definitely a bummer, but it’s just something we’re going to deal with and get by.”

Notes:

• The team’s lines and pairings during practice were:

59 Jake Guentzel – 77 Jeff Carter – 17 Bryan Rust

16 Jason Zucker – 9 Evan Rodrigues – 42 Kasperi Kapanen

43 Danton Heinen – 53 Teddy Blueger – 23 Brock McGinn

10 Drew O’Connor – 11 Brian Boyle – 12 Zach Aston-Reese

5 Mike Matheson – 58 Kris Letang

73 P.O Joseph – 6 John Marino

50 Juuso Riikola – 52 Mark Friedman

Along with Pettersson and Ruhwedel, forwards Sam Lafferty, Dominik Simon and defenseman Taylor Fedun skated as reserves.

• The top power-play unit included Carter, Guentzel, Kapanen, Letang and Rust. The second power-play group involved Heinen, Marino, O’Connor, Rodrigues and Zucker.

• Forward Evgeni Malkin skated before practice along with Pettersson and Ruhwedel. He continues to recuperate from offseason surgery to his right knee.

Follow the Penguins all season long.