The Pittsburgh Penguins seem to have avoided the early-season scare of losing one of their top players to injury.
Defenseman Kris Letang missed practice Thursday and after the Penguins wrapped up their drills for the day, coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Letang was being evaluated for an unspecified injury.
Thankfully for the Penguins, Letang’s absence proved to be short-lived, as he returned to practice at the club’s facility in Cranberry on Friday, skating in a full-contact capacity.
Per Sullivan, Letang is expected to be available Saturday for their game in St. Louis.
Letang ranks second on the team in ice time (24 minutes, 47 seconds), trailing only Erik Karlsson.
The 36-year-old has played alongside Ryan Graves this season and is averaging 54 seconds of ice time with the club’s second power-play unit.
On the year, he has three assists with six shots.
“It’s nothing major. We’re just monitoring,” Letang said of his absence Thursday.
Forward Noel Acciari was also missing from Thursday’s practice because of an unknown ailment.
Like Letang, he returned to action Friday.
“A little banged up,” he said. “Just needed a day but feel good. Good to be back out there. … Got a good skate in today. Feel good enough to go tomorrow.”
Acciari is averaging 12:29 of ice time, skating primarily as the Penguins’ fourth-line center while also working on the penalty kill.
He has yet to record a point.
Zohorna recalled
The Penguins recalled 6-foot-6 winger Radim Zohorna on Friday from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
The 27-year-old Zohorna impressed Sullivan throughout training camp and the preseason but was assigned to the AHL a day before the club’s regular-season opener Oct. 10.
In four preseason contests, he recorded 10 shots, scoring a goal and adding four assists.
“When he comes back, he’s just a more polished version of himself,” Sullivan said. “I think he has more of a comfort level in his own game and in the surroundings around him.”
With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this year, Zohorna has appeared in two games with zero points.
An undrafted signing by the Penguins out of Havlickuv, Czechia, in 2020, Zohorna appeared in parts of two seasons with the team before joining Calgary and, most recently, Toronto.
In 35 career NHL games, he has scored five goals with six assists.
Zohorna was signed by president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas in July to a one-year deal worth $775,000.
Harkins clears waivers
Forward Jansen Harkins cleared waivers Friday afternoon, allowing for the Penguins to assign him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Harkins, 26, recorded zero points in four games with the Penguins before being placed on waivers Thursday.
He averaged a team-low 9:28 of ice time while also skating with the Penguins’ second power-play unit.
Playing on the Penguins’ third line with Lars Eller and Drew O’Connor, Harkins produced four shots.
Note: O’Connor skated on the Penguins’ second power-play group Friday with Kris Letang, Bryan Rust, Jeff Carter and Reilly Smith.
