Penguins' Zach Aston-Reese out indefinitely; Dominik Kahun a game-time decision vs. Leafs
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese will be sidelined on a week-to-week basis because of an undisclosed injury, according to coach Mike Sullivan.
In 57 games this season, Aston-Reese has 13 points (six goals, seven assists).
Patric Hornqvist assumed Aston-Reese’s spot on the third line alongside Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev during the morning skate Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena, prior to the Penguins taking on the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was moved to that line during the second period of a 5-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday after Aston-Reese was injured during the second period.
Given Hornqvist’s rough-and-tumble ways, he appears to be a suitable fit for that line.
“Obviously, those two are straight-line guys, same as me,” Hornqvist said. “We were skating, strong on pucks.”
“Patric Hornqvist is a guy that has similar attributes (as Aston-Reese),” Sullivan said. “He’s big and strong. I think Patric might have a little more finish offensively. But he brings a pretty decent, solid, conscientious game. So that’s one of the reasons we put him there.”
Notes:
• While Hornqvist is expected to replace Aston-Reese on the third line, it appears forward Dominik Kahun will replace Aston-Reese in the lineup. Kahun skated on the fourth line during the morning skate. Sidelined since Jan. 19 because of a concussion, Kahun was labeled as a game-time decision.
In 48 games this season, Kahun has 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists).
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is expected to start in net. In 28 games this season, he has a 19-8-1 record along with a 2.14 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and three shutouts.
• The Penguins’ lines and pairs during the morning skate were:
Jason Zucker — Sidney Crosby — Dominik Simon
Jared McCann — Evgeni Malkin — Bryan Rust
Brandon Tanev — Teddy Blueger — Patrick Hornqvist
Dominik Kahun — Andrew Agozzino — Sam Lafferty
Jack Johnson — Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson — Justin Schultz
Juuso Riikola — Chad Ruhwedel
• The first power-play unit included Crosby, Hornqvist, Letang, Malkin and Rust. The second power-play unit was composed of Kahun, McCann, Riikola, Schultz and Zucker.
• Forward Nick Bjugstad worked out on the ice prior to the morning skate. He has not played since Nov. 15 because of a core muscle injury.
• The Maple Leafs are expected to start goaltender Frederik Andersen. In 44 games this season, Andersen has a 24-11-6 record along with a 2.93 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout.
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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