Today, Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that Eric Fehr has suffered a significant lower-body injury that will keep him out for at least a month. Additionally, Sullivan said that Evgeni Malkin will not be traveling with the team this weekend. Malkin is also said to have a lower-body injury and will stay in Pittsburgh for rehab.
Both were not participating at the team’s skate today in Cranberry Township. Fehr, who took a vicious hit against the boards during Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators, looked to be in serious pain after leaving the ice and being carried to the locker room.
Although as serious it may have looked, Sullivan stressed that the injury will not be season-ending.
Malkin, who is currently leading the team with 49 points, will be sitting out against tomorrow’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightening and Saturday’s match against the Florida Panthers. At this point, it is unsure when and how this injury was caused, but Sullivan has taken the proper precaution in giving the Penguins biggest producer a few days off to recover.
After Fehr’s injury on Tuesday, Sullivan put Matt Cullen at center between Tom Kuhnhackl and Bryan Rust. The Penguins will absolutely miss Fehr’s ability to play on the penalty-kill, and coaches will work to find a temporary replacement.
The void will be felt, as Fehr has become one of the Penguins best penalty killers this season. Averaging two minutes and 29 seconds of short-handed work per game, whoever replaces Fehr will have big shoes to fill. The 30-year-old center also has three short-handed goals this season which ties for a league high.
The Pens will be on the road tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightening at 7 p.m. Fans should keep an eye out on the penalty kill and see what effect the absence of Fehr may have.
