Penguins forward Brian Boyle out against Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brian Boyle will miss Friday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres due to an undisclosed injury. Coach Mike Sullivan labeled his status as “day to day.”
Boyle did not participate in an optional morning skate on Friday, a day after he was absent from practice in Cranberry.
In 19 games this season, Boyle, primarily a bottom-six forward, has three goals while averaging 10 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time per contest.
Notes:
• Boyle will presumably be replaced in the lineup by forward Sam Lafferty. A healthy scratch for 22 of the team’s first 28 games, Lafferty has an assist and has averaged 9:01 of ice time in the seven contests he has played.
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is slated to start for the Penguins in Friday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres.
In 22 games this season, Jarry has a 13-5-4 record, a 1.92 goals against average, a .934 save percentage and three shutouts.
During Monday’s 5-2 home win against the Montreal Canadiens, Jarry made 28 saves on 30 shots.
• Those who participated in the optional morning skate included forwards Zach Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger, Danton Heinen, Lafferty, Drew O’Connor and Dominik Simon; defensemen Mark Friedman, Mike Matheson, Chad Ruhwedel and Marcus Pettersson; and goaltenders Casey DeSmith and Jarry.
Forward Evgeni Malkin, currently on long-term injured reserve as he recovers from surgery to his right knee, also took part in a non-contact fashion.
The Sabres did not hold a morning skate following a 3-2 shootout road win against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.
• On Thursday, the Sabres recalled defenseman Casey Fitzgerald from Rochester of the American Hockey League (AHL). The son of former Penguins executive and coach Tom Fitzgerald, Casey Fitzgerald could made his NHL debut on Friday.
A third-round pick (No. 86 overall) in 2016, Casey Fitzgerald has appeared in 21 games this season for Rochester and has seven points (four goals, three assists).
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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