Penguins’ Egor Chinakhov Sustains Injury At Practice

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Egor Chinakhov sat out of Friday night’s loss to the Colorado Avalanche with a lower-body injury sustained during practice. There is currently no timeline for his return per Josh Yohe of The Athletic.

Ville Koivunen rose into a second-line role next to Thomas Novak and Evgeni Malkin in Chinakhov’s absence. Malkin scored the game’s opening goal with an assist from Koivunen. The trio were also on the ice for one goal against. Koivunen also earned reps on the power-play in Chinakhov’s absence, though Pittsburgh didn’t score on the man-advantage.

Chinakhov’s absence also pulled Elmer Söderblom into the lineup for just his third game of the year. Söderblom recorded no scoring and a minus-one, marking the only change to his stat line this season. He is still searching for the spark that led him to 10 points in 20 games with the Penguins last season, after a Trade Deadline swap that sent a third-round pick back to the Detroit Red Wings.

Pittsburgh’s offense clearly missed Chinakhov’s presence, even as he has sputtered to start the season. The 25 year old scored a goal in the Penguins’ season opener, then an assist in their second game. He has gone without any scoring in five games since then, despite averaging two shots and 15 minutes of ice time per game. That slow start – after a red-hot 36 points in 43 games with Pittsburgh last season – has pulled Chinakhov into a competition for second-line minutes.

An extended absence could be just the thing that gives Chinakhov’s competitors – namely Koivunen – the chance to pull ahead. Koivunen looked well connected with Malkin through Friday’s game, building his way to three points and a plus-three through six games this season. Earning a second-line role would certainly support the surprising, long-term extension that Koivunen signed this summer. If his spot sticks, Chinakhov could return to a third-line role next to Andrei Kuzmenko and Benjamin Kindel. The chances at that outcome will likely hinge on how long Chinakhov needs to sit out with his new lower-body injury.