Matheson Out For Penguins Opener, Day To Day

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mike Matheson will miss Tuesday’s season opener against the Lightning in Tampa, coach Mike Sullivan announced. Sullivan said Matheson’s “status is day to day.”

Matheson left Friday’s practice early with what Sullivan called a nagging lower-body injury, one that Sullivan said was not believed to be serious. This is apparently the same thing that will sideline him for at least one game. He practiced Saturday.

Tuesday, Matheson was on the ice for the morning skate and took line rushes with his regular defense partner, John Marino.

There is only one extra defenseman on the roster, Mark Friedman, who is a right-handed shooter. Matheson is a left-handed shooter.

Matheson, in his first season with the Penguins last season and proved a nice addition. He had five goals, 16 points in 44 games.