The Penguins were dealt a sizable blow Tuesday when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was diagnosed with a concussion.
Fleury will miss a minimum of one to two weeks, general manager Jim Rutherford told the Post-Gazette. An absence of any duration can be considered a major setback for the struggling Penguins, who can’t seem to get much traction this season.
Fleury had been the team’s best player by any measure, securing a 13-10-2 record with a 2.29 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and two shutouts.
“I haven’t talked to the doctor yet. I don’t have any further information other than he was examined, and it was determined he was concussed,” Rutherford said. “At a minimum one to two weeks. You can’t put a time line on these things though.”
It’s unclear how Fleury sustained the concussion. He has no publicized history of concussions, and has been remarkably healthy for most of his 12-year NHL career. He has missed just 42 total games due to injury.
Coach Mike Sullivan, who made his debut behind the bench Monday in a 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, said Fleury came to him and medical staff after the game with news that he wasn’t feeling “right.”
“Marc came to us after the game and said he did not feel right and so, potentially it’s a concussion,” said Sullivan after the team’s practice, and before Rutherford’s confirmation.
Sullivan said Fleury did not indicate any particular incident that may have led to the head injury, but the team acted swiftly.
“No, he didn’t. I don’t think it was in the game [Monday] night, but he didn’t indicate when,” Sullivan said. “Certainly when he brought it to our attention, we addressed it.”
The Penguins called up goalie Matt Murray, the American Hockey League goaltender of the year in the 2014-15 season. He has a 12-4-0 record, with a 1.84 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Backoff Jeff Zatkoff presumably would get the start tonight in Boston. Zatkoff has a 2-1-1 record in five games played this season, with a 2.43 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
The punches didn’t stop there.
Sullivan also said winger Beau Bennett will be out for the next 4-6 weeks with an undisclosed upper body injury.
Bennett left the Penguins game Monday night in the first period after a hit into the boards by Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie.
He appeared to be in significant distress as he left the ice and headed down the runway for evaluation.
The Penguins called up center Kevin Porter and left winger Conor Sheary.
Porter, 29, began the season on the NHL roster and played in eight games with one assist. In 16 AHL games, he has nine points (5 goals, 4 assists).
Sheary, 23, has played in 24 AHL games this season and has 25 points (6 goals, 19 assists).
To make room for each on the roster, the Penguins placed Bennett and defenseman Kris Letang on injured reserve. Letang has played in one game of the past five with two different injuries.
The latest injuries come on the heels of a wild week for the Penguins, who got a new coach Saturday when Rutherford fired Mike Johnston, days after losing veteran winger Pascal Dupuis to retirement because of blood-clotting issues.
Bennett had been promoted to the top line to take Dupuis’ place, and was beginning to develop some chemistry there with center Sidney Crosby, and produce at a strong pace.
Jenn Menendez: jmenendez@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JennMenendez.
First Published: December 15, 2015, 6:17 p.m.
Updated: December 15, 2015, 6:41 p.m.
