The injury bug has grabbed the Pittsburgh Penguins' blue line this month, causing four of the team's top six defensemen to miss time. Fortunately, Jeff Petry could return tomorrow when the team takes on the Detroit Red Wings.
Petry participated in the Penguins' practice at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry and took line rushes alongside Brian Dumoulin on the second pair.
With Petry in, Taylor Fedun seems to be the odd man out, rotating with Mark Friedman and Chad Ruhwedel on the third pair at practice.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan anticipates that Petry will be a "game-time decision" for Tuesday's game.
Petry has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury he sustained against the New York Rangers on March 16th. The right-shot defenseman had been finding his rhythm next to Dumoulin as the Penguins attempted to figure out their defense.
Even with Petry back, the Penguins remain without three defensemen heading into the final two weeks of the season. Marcus Pettersson, Jan Rutta, and Dmitry Kulikov are all still week-to-week with lower-body injuries.
Petry has scored 26 points (5G - 21A) in 52 games this season for the Penguins. His return brings more stability to the team's ailing blue line.
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