Friday, February 25, 2011
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Forward Alex Kovalev is returning to the Penguins on a day the team couldn’t escape losing yet another regular to a growing injury list.
The Penguins acquired Kovalev in exchange for a conditional draft pick with the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
The trade for Kovalev was announced shortly after coach Dan Bylsma revealed that defenseman Brooks Orpik will miss between four and six weeks with a broken finger on his right hand. Orpik was hurt when he was struck by Patrick Marleau’s shot late in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose on Wednesday.
On the bright side, the Penguins did add a veteran forward in Kovalev, who’s capable of stepping in immediately to provide a sputtering offense some punch. Pittsburgh is already missing Sidney Crosby, who’s out indefinitely with a concussion, and Evgeni Malkin, who sustained a season-ending knee injury earlier this month.
“Without Crosby and Malkin and guys like this in your lineup, I welcome the addition of the skill of Alexei Kovalev,” general manager Ray Shero said. “You can see what we’re missing on the ice with some of these guys.”