Penguins
‘Real Significant,’ Zucker Skates, Timetable Accelerates?
Jason Zucker missed the Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular-season finale last Friday, and most of their next-to-last game, too.
And he won’t be in their lineup when they open Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, either.
But after having a vigorous on-ice workout at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex before his teammates practiced Monday, Zucker might be ready to return sooner than many have been expecting.
“It’s real significant (that he’s resumed skating),” coach Mike Sullivan said. “There is a chance that his timetable could be accelerated. The fact that he’s on the ice is a big step.
“We’ll go from there, but we’re certainly encouraged that he’s back on the ice.”
Zucker left the Penguins’ 5-1 loss to Edmonton last Tuesday late in the first period because of an unspecified lower-body injury.
He appeared in just 41 games during the regular season, with most of his man-games lost resulting from core-muscle surgery.
He finished with eight goals and nine assists in 41 games, with only one of those goals in his final seven games.
When he was injured, Zucker was working at left wing on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ second line, with Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell.
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i am hoping he’s back in the line-up soon.
Hope so, too. I think he adds a fair bit to the lineup, and I haven’t seen a player have this type of bad injury luck since a certain former first round pick. Be great if he could get back and contribute to a playoff run.
It’s tough to do any sort of projection when you don’t know a guy’s medical details — or even the precise nature of his injury — but I was surprised by how good Zucker looked during his workout. He obviously did not have any contact (and there will be plenty of that in the playoffs, of course), but there was absolutely nothing about how he looked that would make one believe that he was injured. Just a hunch, but I won’t be surprised if we see him back in the lineup relatively early in the series.
And just like that, this website gets a huge shot in the arm. Dave Freakin’ Molinari. Now I just might have to subscribe to the full site. Good luck sir.
How did you know my middle name, Kris?
real bummer Zucker’s injuries have him looking like a liability since Rutherford traded with Billy G
Welcome Dave! Couldn’t figure out why you played 3rd fiddle over at the other site. You are a HOFer!
Thanks for the kind words. I’m very happy to be here.
Much better writer than Dan. I get sick of all the cutesy references and puns and all that. Not interested in personality, just the pens.
Well that just hurts. Not even the Letterkenny references?
Can’t please everyone Dan! You please this reader!
I actually think Malkin was pretty good this year. He has been spotty, but he’s always kind of streaky. When he’s on he’s really on. He would have been on pace for a 40+ goal 80+ point season if he played a full 82 games (not that he would). That’s without consistent wingers or even strength play.