Penguins recall Danton Heinen, Sam Poulin to fill gaps at center

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forwards Danton Heinen and Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Monday morning. Those transactions were made in conjunction with forwards Evgeni Malkin and Blake Lizotte being placed on injured reserve.

Malkin and Lizotte have been labeled as “week-to-week” with undisclosed ailments.

Heinen is expected to open Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at PPG Paints Arena as the fourth-line center, and Poulin is slated to be a healthy scratch.

Given that Malkin (second line) and Lizotte (fourth line) are two of the team’s four regular centers, the Penguins needed reinforcements who could fill in the middle.

While Heinen predominantly has played either wing at the NHL level, he has been deployed as a center for most of the season while assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In fact, he has emerged as that team’s second-leading scorer with 18 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 12 games after being moved to center, primarily on the top line.

As for Poulin, he is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top scorer with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 21 games. Still considered a rookie with regard to his NHL status, most of Poulin’s season has unfolded as a left winger, but he has plenty of experience at center, primarily at the AHL level.

“You’ve got to deal with injuries,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “We’ve been dealing with that. The entire league has. Next guy up. We have a lot of guys there (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) that have been doing a great job. There becomes opportunity. There’s different options in regards to there’s guys that can play both center and wing.

“Some guys that have maybe been on the wing at different times, then move over to center. Even a guy like Heinen, who got some time there playing in the middle, really a lot of it from his time there (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) to start the season. Got some different options there that we can use in terms of filling those spots in the middle.”

St. Ivany, Brunicke return

In nine NHL games this season, Penguins rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke has one goal. (AP)

On Sunday, the team recalled rookie defensemen Harrison Brunicke and Jack St. Ivany from conditioning assignments with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Brunicke’s return comes as the 19-year-old was invited to Hockey Canada’s upcoming training camp for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship on Monday. That camp is scheduled to open Saturday in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The tournament is scheduled to be held in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., between Dec. 26 and Jan. 5.

“Really excited for (Brunicke) to get that opportunity,” Muse said. “It’s a great tournament, a great experience. Excited for him.”

As for St. Ivany, he remains designated to a season-opening injured non-roster list as a result of a suspected right foot ailment he suffered during a preseason game Oct. 1.

Per Muse, St. Ivany continues to be evaluated in his recovery and has been labeled as “day-to-day.”

Rakell cleared for contact

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has missed the past 18 games due to a left hand injury. (AP)

Penguins forward Rickard Rakell participated in a morning skate at Cranberry in a full-contact capacity. That marked his first time on the ice with teammates in such a manner.

Designated to injured reserve, he is approximately six weeks removed from surgery on his left hand. The team originally announced a timeframe for recovery of six to eight weeks.