Penguins recall defenseman Mark Friedman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled defenseman Mark Friedman from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an emergency basis Saturday.

Recalls under emergency conditions are permitted when a team does not potentially have a full traditional lineup of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders available.

During a 4-2 road loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday, incumbent defenseman Jeff Petry left that contest prematurely due to what the team has labeled as an “upper-body” injury. Petry appeared to injure the head portion of his upper body when he was struck by the right elbow of Rangers forward Tyler Motte during the first period.

It is not immediately known if any of the team’s other defensemen who were on the active roster entering Saturday are potentially unavailable for Saturday’s road game against the New York Rangers.

This marks the fifth time Friedman has been summoned to the NHL roster this season.

A right-handed shot capable of playing either side of a defensive pairing, Friedman has appeared in 11 NHL games during 2021-22 and has one assist while averaging 15:27 of ice time per contest.

With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Friedman has played in 24 games and has scored six points (one goal, five assists).

In a corresponding transaction, Nick Bonino (lacerated kidney) was placed on long-term injured reserve retroactive to March 9.

Per league rules, players designated to long-term injured reserve must be sidelined for a total of 10 games and 24 days on the NHL calendar. For Bonino, that means he is not eligible to return to the active NHL roster until a road contest against the New Jersey Devils on April 4.

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has been on long-term injured reserve retroactive to March 12 due to an undisclosed ailment.