The Penguins recalled defenseman Derrick Pouliot from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, announced by Jim Rutherford Monday morning. Pouliot currently leads Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensemen, ranking seventh in the AHL with 23 points in 37 games.
Pouliot is making his first NHL premiere this season after playing in 34 games last season for the Penguins, and scoring his first NHL goal against the Florida Panthers. Overall last season, he scored two goals and five assists, totaling seven points in his debut. Pouliot currently has five points over the last four games.
In 68 AHL regular-season contests Pouliot has amassed 47 points, with three points in seven AHL postseason games. Pouliot was Pittsburgh’s first-round draft pick in 2012. He was recently selected to play in his second-consecutive AHL All-Star Classic alongside goalie Matt Murray and forward Dominik Simon and he is the only defenseman on the AHL team’s top power-play unit.
With a strong, wide base, Pouliot is able to quickly take the puck up the ice, making him very mobile with fast puck-distribution skills.
Pouliot has a good chance of playing in tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues with defensemen David Warsofsky and Kris Letang out with undisclosed injuries. Letang will be a “game-time decision” for tonight, announced by coach Mike Sullivan.
Letang was injured in Friday’s game against Tampa Bay, with a possible upper-body injury after taking a hit by right winger Ryan Callahan, causing him to miss Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Warsofsky, who replaced Letang, was injured in Sunday’s game after referee Tim Peel slid into the defenseman, causing him to land partially on his head and neck.
With no update on Warsofsky’s status, the Penguins only have five healthy defenseman on their NHL roster after trading reserve Adam Clendening to Anaheim Saturday.
The Penguins are hoping to continue their four-game point streak tonight as they face off against the St. Louis Blues at 8 p.m. at the Scottrade Center.
