Penguins/NHL
Injury Update
Defenseman Brooks Orpik and Zbynek Michalek will both miss tonight’s game and while the Penguins are not concerned about Brooks Orpik’s groin injury, he’s day-to-day, there is concern that Zbynek Michalek’s shoulder injury could be a long-term injury that sidelines him for months.
Dan Bylsma said today in his media conference that Michalek is seeing a team physician today. A league source told me that Michalek is expected to get a second opinion today before the Penguins make an official diagnosis. Surgery has not been ruled out at this point, according to the source.
If Michalek is injured long-term, Pittsburgh’s depth on their blueline will be tested. The team already has question marks with Ben Lovejoy and Deryk Engelland as their 6th and 7th defenseman.
A long-term injury could push up Robert Bortuzzo’s or Brian Strait’s timetable as Pens management believes both are close to being NHL ready.
