Penguins recall forward Drew O'Connor from taxi squad

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled rookie forward Drew O’Connor from their taxi squad.

A first-year professional, O’Connor has played in nine NHL games this season and has one assist.

The 22-year-old has played in six American Hockey League (AHL) games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season and has five points (three goals, two assists).

Notes:

• In a corresponding transaction, forward Kasperi Kapanen was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Wednesday.

During a 5-2 home win against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, Kapanen’s left foot or ankle appeared to be struck by a puck during the second period.

Coach Mike Sullivan has termed his recovery as “week to week.”

Kapanen is the team’s seventh-leading scorer with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 30 games.

• Forward Jason Zucker participated in Saturday’s morning skate and skated beforehand with the taxi squad but remained sidelined. He has not played since suffering a suspected left leg injury on Feb. 23.

Currently on long-term injured reserve, Zucker has played in 17 games this season and has seven points (four goals, three assists.

Sullivan described his recovery as “really encouraging.”

Forwards Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev each worked out with Saturday morning with skating and skills development coach Ty Hennes. Each player is on injured reserve with undisclosed ailments.

Sidelined since March 15, Blueger has played in 28 games this season and has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists).

Injured on March 18, Tanev has scored 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 30 games.

Kapanen is the team’s seventh-leading scorer with 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) in 30 games.

Defenseman Mark Friedman skated with the taxi squad. He remains on injured reserve due to a suspected head injury.

In two games with the Penguins this season, Friedman has two points (one goal, one assist).

• Forwards Jordy Bellerive and Josh Currie were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and assigned to the taxi squad.

Bellerive, 21, is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s third-leading scorer with nine points (three goals, six assists) in 12 games this season.

The 28-year-old Currie, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s captain, has played in nine AHL games this season and has seven points (four goals, three assists). He also has played in one NHL game this season, with no points.

• The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry. In 23 games this season, he has a 13-8-2 record along with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .909 save percentage.

• Islanders forward Michael Dal Colle is scheduled to miss the next two games, each against the Penguins, because of an undisclosed injury. In 20 games this season, Dal Colle has four points (one goal, three assists).

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