Penguins’ Ben Kindel to return after missing time following vasovagal episode

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is set to return to game action on Thursday against the the Utah Mammoth less than a week after suffering a medical episode on a team flight.

Coach Dan Muse confirmed to reporters on Thursday morning that Kindel, as well as forwards Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov, are all expected to draw back in.

Kindel collapsed on the team’s flight from Salt Lake City International Airport last week shortly after Pittsburgh’s previous outing against the Mammoth. According to Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, Kindel regained consciousness after receiving oxygen on the plane, having suffered a bout of vasovagal. The Mayo Clinic describes this as an event that causes “heart rate and blood pressure to drop suddenly” when the “body overreacts to certain triggers.”

“Just really grateful for the Penguins staff, doctors, trainers, everybody who are so good, as well as the flight crew,” Kindel told reporters about the experience on Tuesday. “Just so really grateful for that, and they handled it with really good professionalism, and everything worked out good, so now I’m just looking to move forward.”

Kindel said he returned to the ice last weekend after returning home to Pittsburgh, and used the extra time away from game action to get himself physically back up to speed.

“Obviously, a couple weird days, but it feels normal now just being back with the guys,” Kindel added. “So yeah, just excited for the rest of the year.”

Kindel is in his second season of NHL action, registering two goals and two assists through nine games. He made the NHL as an 18-year-old last year, netting 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 77 games.

The Penguins currently sit sixth in the Metropolitan Division with a 5-6-1 record. They’re riding a two-game winning streak, meaning a win on Thursday will give them their largest streak of the season.