Penguins Place Kulikov on LTI List

Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov, one of three players the Pittsburgh Penguins added as the NHL’s trade deadline approached, has been placed on the Long-Term Injured list, retroactive to March 12.

That will allow the Penguins to recall a defenseman from their farm team in Wilkes-Barre, if that is necessary.

Two defensemen, Jeff Petry and Jan Rutta were hurt during their 6-4 loss to Montreal and there has been no word yet on the nature or severity of the injury to either.

If they do bring up someone from the American Hockey League, Mark Friedman and Ty Smith would seem to be the most logical candidates.

Because Friedman is a right-handed shot, as are Petry and Rutta, and the Penguins have just two others who play that side who are healthy, he might be the favorite to get the nod.

The Penguins already had one spare healthy defenseman, Chad Ruhwedel, on the major-league roster, and he presumably will play if Petry and/or Rutta is not available for their game against the New York Rangers Thursday at 7:08 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.

Kulikov, who must sit out at least 10 games and 24 days, appeared in four games with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being acquired from Anaheim. He earned one assist.

The other two players the Penguins added near the deadline, forwards Nick Bonino and Mikael Granlund, also have missed time since being acquired.

Granlund sat out one game because of illness, while Bonino is recovering from a lacerated kidney and is listed as week-to-week, as is Kulikov.