Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kasperi Kapanen out week to week with lower-body injury

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, Mike Sullivan, addressed the media on Friday and gave updates on a number of players; including Kasperi Kapanen, who will be out week to week with a lower-body injury. 

Kapanen, 26, has registered six goals and 17 points in 35 games this season. He has tallied two power-play goals and four power-play points. He is averaging 11:48 of ice time this season, a drop from the average 14:32 he held during the 2021-22 campaign. Kapanen is currently in his third season with the Penguins after being acquired in a six-player deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs in August 2020. 

Sullivan also announced that defenseman Jeff Petry, and forward Ryan Poehling will be game-time decisions ahead of Friday night’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators. Petry has been sidelined since Dec. 12 with an upper-body injury. The 35-year-old has registered 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 28 games this season along with four power-play points. Petry and Poehling were acquired in an off-season trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth-round draft pick. 

Goaltender Tristan Jarry is also listed as a game-time decision according to coach Sullivan. Jarry left the Winter Classic game against the Boston Bruins with a lower-body injury. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski was called up to assume the backup position meanwhile Casey DeSmith stepped up and dropped a 2-3-1 record in seven appearances.

Sullivan also announced that Kris Letang, Josh Archibald and Jan Rutta will not play tonight against the Senators.