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Patric Hornqvist, Alex Galchenyuk Injured: Injury Updates

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Patric Hornqvist Pittsburgh Penguins
Patric Hornqvist. Photo by Michael Miller

Cranberry, Twp, PA — The Penguins may have lost a fourth forward already in the young season. After Bryan Rust, Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad were injured in the time frame from the final preseason game to the second game of the regular season, winger Patric Hornqvist was injured Tuesday night. To make matters worse, winger Alex Galchenyuk was also absent from practice Wednesday.

Head coach Mike Sullivan termed both as day-to-day.

That’s one way to deal with salary cap issues, though it’s probably not the way the Penguins prefer.

Hornqvist was struck by a shot in the left leg midway through the first period. He hobbled off the ice, received some treatment on the bench then went to the locker room. He did not return to the game.

Following the Penguins 4-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night, head coach Mike Sullivan said Patric Hornqvist was being evaluated and more information would be available Wednesday. Hornqvist’s absence is probably not good news for a team that already has two emergency recalls on the roster and played with just 11 forwards Tuesday night.

Per Sullivan, Galchenyuk has been dealing with a nagging injury which was aggravated Tuesday night. Galchenyuk finished the game.

One interesting tidbit, if the Penguins need to make a third emergency recall, first-round pick Sam Poulin or third-rounder Nathan Legare would be eligible. One emergency recall Sam Lafferty made his NHL debut Tuesday. Andrew Agozzino is the other forward recall.

Tuesday night, TSN insider Bob McKenzie stoked Penguins trade rumors when he suggested defenseman Erik Gudbranson was also on the block. Wednesday at practice, defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Juuso Riikola filled on at forward on the fourth line.