Concerning news for one depth player in the Pittsburgh Penguins forward group.
Head coach Mike Sullivan announced that Drew O’Connor had been ruled out of the team’s Thursday night matchup with the Washington Capitals due to a concussion.
Sullivan also said that forwards Noel Acciari and Jansen Harkins will be game-time decisions.
O’Connor suffered the injury during the Penguins’ 5-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. He did not return for the third period.
The 25-year-old has been a solid depth centerman for Pittsburgh this season. In 60 games, he has scored nine goals and 12 assists with a +7 rating.
According to Tribune-Review Sports reporter Seth Rorabaugh, Acciari left the team’s morning skate early, while Harkins was among the last players to leave the ice.
Acciari and Harkins missed Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jackets, with Acciari being held out due to an upper-body injury. Last month, he was diagnosed with a concussion after being hit by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon, which earned the blueliner a three-game suspension. The hit caused Acciari to miss six games.
Harkins was being evaluated for an upper-body injury after the Penguins’ rough 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers this past Sunday. However, he has been listed with an undisclosed injury. Harkins also missed two games in February due to a concussion.
Per team reporter Michelle Crechiolo, Jake Guentzel was wearing a regular practice jersey during Thursday’s skate. Guentzel has been on injured reserve since suffering an injury last month.
The Penguins (28-24-8) have slowly fallen further and further out of playoff contention. They currently sit sixth in the Metropolitan Divison with 64 points, eight behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third, and eight back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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