Penguins Place Jared McCann on IR, Activate Juuso Riikola

The Pittsburgh Penguins filled their roster ahead of the 6 p.m. game against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. As expected, the club recalled Anthony Angello from the taxi squad and activated injured defenseman Juuso Riikola from the IR.  The Penguins recalled Josh Currie from the AHL to the taxi squad, according to GM Ron Hextall.

What wasn’t expected, the team also placed Jared McCann on IR retroactive to March 7. Tuesday morning, head coach Mike Sullivan said McCann was out day-to-day.

Angello to the taxi squad was simply a paper move for salary cap reasons on Monday. On Sunday, Angello had five hits in seven minutes of ice time.

Activating Riikola was also a small surprise. Sullivan was asked Tuesday morning if there was an update on Riikola and Sullivan said there was no change in his status.

Riikola is the only depth LHD on the Penguins roster. Chad Ruhwedel is the RHD on the roster squad and the Penguins have Yannick Weber on the taxi squad.

McCann is dealing with an upper-body injury suffered on Sunday, presumably in the second period. PHN poured through video but could not find a clear moment, though he did appear to wince as he skated to the bench while ending his final shift of the second period.

From the Pittsburgh Penguins Release: 

Angello, 25, has played in five games for Pittsburgh this season. In 13 career NHL games, he’s picked up one goal. An Albany, New York native, Angello has skated in two games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, where he has notched one goal, one assist, and two points. In 117 career games in the AHL, all with WBS, Angello has 56 points (33G-23A).

Currie, 28, has appeared in one game with Pittsburgh this season. In 21 career NHL games, he has tallied two goals, three assists for five points, and is a plus-2. In four games with WBS this year, Currie has notched three goals, one assist, and four points.