Penguins activate forwards Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust from injured reserve
The Penguins could get the wingers on their top line back in the lineup for Sunday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks.
Forwards Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust were officially activated from injured reserve on Sunday morning.
Guentzel, typically a left winger, is the team’s leading scorer with 27 points (15 goals, 12 assists) in 24 games this season. He has not played since suffering what he described as a “small fracture” in his right hand on Dec. 6.
Rust, who usually mans the right wing, has not played since suffering an undisclosed injury on Nov. 24. In 12 games this season, he has nine points (two goals, seven assists).
Throughout the past week, both players have been practicing in their usual spots on the top line with center Sidney Crosby.
Notes:
• Forward Teddy Blueger was activated from the NHL’s list for covid-19 protocol. He was initially placed on the list on Monday. Despite being removed from the list, he will not play. According to a release from the team, Blueger did skate on Sunday morning.
• The team recalled forwards Anthony Angello, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Radim Zohorna and goaltender Louis Domingue from the taxi squad. All four players had been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) over the past week.
Various maladies have limited Angello to four AHL games and one goal this season.
Bjorkqvist, a second-round pick (No. 61 overall) in 2016, could make his NHL debut on Sunday. He has appeared in 17 AHL games this season and has three points (one goal, two assists). He never has played in an NHL game.
Zohorna has played in 21 games this season and scored nine points (four goals, five assists).
Domingue has played in 10 AHL games this season and has a 3-4-2 record, a 2.69 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. His most recent NHL action came in the form of one game last season with the Calgary Flames.
• Forward Jason Zucker’s designation to injured reserve was made retroactive to Dec. 19. The team initially placed him on injured reserve on Tuesday due to an undisclosed injury.
• Forward Brian Boyle has been given a non-roster designation for personal reasons. According to the team, he welcomed a newborn son on Sunday.
• Per the NHL’s media site, forward Jeff Carter, Kasperi Kapanen and goaltender Tristan Jarry were removed from the active roster. All three players are currently in protocols for covid-19.
• Penguins backup goaltender Casey DeSmith is expected to start Sunday’s game. In six games this season, he has a 2-3-1 record, a 3.04 goals against average, a .905 save percentage and one shutout.
• The Sharks are expected to start goaltender James Reimer. In 18 games this season, Reimer has a record of 11-5-1, a 2.26 goals against average, a .928 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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