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Penguins Injury Updates: Dumoulin Resumes Skating, ZAR Progresses

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Pittsburgh Penguins Brian Dumoulin
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – SEPTEMBER 13: Brian Dumoulin poses for his official headshot for the 2018-2019 season on September 13, 2018 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI

PITTSBURGH — Injured Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brian Dumoulin resumed skating Saturday morning. It is the first known instance of Dumoulin returning to the ice since he suffered a lower body injury sometime during the Penguins 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes last Sunday.

Dumoulin was playing the right side defense with Olli Maatta on the left while the Penguins were without Kris Letang. Letang returned to the lineup Thursday, but Dumoulin remained out which again denied the Penguins a healthy defensive corps. Except for a few games at the beginning of the season and again in February, the Penguins have missed one or more of their top-six defensemen.

The Penguins are also anxiously awaiting the return of forward Zach Aston-Reese who began skating last weekend. Chad Ruhwedel has also been missing due to injury.

“Dumo [sic] did skate this morning. They all skated. They’re all making progress but the fact that Dumoulin is on the ice is really encouraging,” Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said.

Dumoulin, 27, played 76 games this season with career highs in points (23) and assists (23).

The playoffs begin April 10 and the Penguins have not yet finalized their seeding. They could finish second or third in the Metro, or fall into the top wild-card spot pending their results and the results of others tonight.