Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea will be scratched for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PPG Paints Arena due to a presumed facial injury.
Coach Dan Muse revealed Shea’s status approximately two hours before the opening faceoff.
Shea was injured on Saturday during a 5-4 home shootout win against the Winnipeg Jets. In the second period, he left the ice after absorbing a hit by Jets forward Adam Lowry and retreated to the dressing room, holding a towel over his face. Shea was present to open the third period, wearing a full face shield, but did not record a shift in the third or overtime periods.
Typically stationed on the left side of the third pairing, Shea has appeared in 69 games and posted a career-high 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) while averaging 18:57 of ice time per contest.
Entering Sunday, Shea had the second-longest active consecutive games played streak with the Penguins at 78 games. Only forward Connor Dewar (86) has a longer streak.
Along with Shea and Dewar, forwards Anthony Mantha and Tommy Novak, along with defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, are the only members of the team who have appeared in all 69 of the Penguins’ games this season.
“He’s been incredible for us,” Muse said after Saturday’s game. “His game continues to grow. The puck movement, defensive play, penalty killing, he’s obviously been a huge part of it.”
Notes:
• In Shea’s absence, defenseman Ryan Graves will rejoin the lineup. He has not appeared in an NHL contest since Jan. 21.
Muse indicated that Graves will likely be teamed with Connor Clifton on the third defensive pairing.
Graves was recently deployed on a conditioning assignment with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. He appeared in two games during that stretch and scored one goal.
“It’s good for him to get that opportunity, just to go on a conditioning assignment,” Muse said. “It’s been a while since he’s played. He went down there. It’s just getting some game action that’s hard to replicate in practice. He’s been working hard in practices, doing the right things. Him and (defenseman Connor) Clifton … had some really solid games together. They’ll be together today.”
• The Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Stuart Skinner. In 42 games this season, Skinner has a 20-13-9 record, a 2.85 goals-against average, an .890 save percentage and two shutouts.
This season, Skinner has faced the Hurricanes in four games and posted a 2-0-2 record, a 3.39 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage.
• Penguins rookie forward Ville Koivunen was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton prior to the game. He has been a healthy scratch in the previous two games.
• Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has an eight-game scoring streak (three goals, seven assists).
• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has 799 career points.
• Penguins defenseman Sam Girard has 199 career assists.
• Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has 1,388 career points.
• The Hurricanes are expected to start goaltender Frederik Andersen. In 28 games this season, Andersen has a 12-11-5 record, a 3.19 goals-against average and an .872 save percentage.
This season, Andersen has faced the Penguins in three contests, posting a 2-1-0 record, a 4.43 goals-against average and an .846 save percentage.
• Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall has 299 career goals.
• The scheduled referees are Justin Kea (No. 36) and Kelly Sutherland (No. 11), while the linespersons are James Tobias (No. 61) and Kyle Flemington (No. 55).