UPDATE: Dumoulin Suffers Lower Body Injury in First Period Saturday

It looks like the injury bug has struck the Pittsburgh Penguins again. Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin exited Saturday’s game against St. Louis in the first period after an apparent lower body injury. There was no noticeable evidence of what might be plaguing Dumoulin but it appeared lower body related after he needed help down the tunnel to the locker room. He did not return to game action in the first period and a bench interview with Penguins Assistant Coach Jacque Martin gave no indication to his availability for the rest of the game against St. Louis.

Dumoulin missed significant time earlier this season with a lower-body injury and required an IR stint after he was a late scratch from the line up on Oct. 19. He returned ten days later to play against Philadelphia. Dumoulin has one goal and seven assists while holding a plus-17 this season.

Brian Dumoulin did not return for the second period. The Penguins double shifted left side defenseman Jack Johnson in the first period and all defensemen played extra minutes. Johnson played more than 10 minutes in the opening period and over 26 minutes overall. John Marino played more than 21 minutes.

The Penguins currently have four players, including Sidney Crosby out of the lineup. Bryan Rust, Justin Schultz, and Nick Bjugstad are also out of the lineup. The Penguins have the dubious distinction of being the most injured team in the NHL this season. According to ManGamesLost.com, the Penguins have suffered the highest quantity combined with lineup quality injuries in the league.

“I don’t have a lot of information right now. All I can tell you is he’s out with a lower body injury. It happened on the first shift,” said head coach Mike Sullivan. “Which makes it tough because now you’re going with five defensemen all night.”