Penguins forward Michael Bunting sidelined following appendix removal
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Michael Bunting will be sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Bunting’s status Thursday morning in advance of a home contest against the rival Philadelphia Flyers.
No further details were provided on Bunting’s status.
In 58 games this season, Bunting has scored 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists) while averaging 15 minutes, 15 seconds of ice time.
Bunting leads the team in power-play goals with nine.
Notes:
• Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to start Thursday’s contest.
In 29 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 12-11-5 record, a 3.16 goals-against average, an .893 save percentage and one shutout.
During a 6-1 road loss to the Flyers on Tuesday, Nedeljkovic stopped 32 of 38 shots.
• Penguins forward Boko Imama has been labeled as available for Thursday’s game. Currently designated to injured reserve, Imama has missed the past four games because of an undisclosed injury.
• Penguins forward Matt Nieto was placed on waivers Wednesday. Should he go unclaimed by 2 p.m., he can be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
• With Bunting injured and Nieto’s status uncertain, Sullivan suggested a recall from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is a “possibility.” As such, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Emil Bemstrom’s gear occupied a stall in the Penguins’ dressing room at their facility in Cranberry.
In two NHL game this season, Bemstrom has no points while logging 12:14 of ice time per contest. An All-Star at the AHL level, Bemstrom is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s leading scorer with 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 43 games.
• Those who participated in an optional morning skate for the Penguins on Thursday included:
Forwards – Kevin Hayes, Imama, Blake Lizotte, Evgeni Malkin, Nieto, Philip Tomasino
Defensemen – Vincent Desharnais, P.O Joseph, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Ryan Shea
Goaltender – Joel Blomqvist
Joseph and Kolyachonok were the final two defensemen on the ice for the morning skate. That is typically a strong indicator of who will be scratched.
• Penguins forward Noel Acciari has played in 499 career games.
• According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Flyers are scheduled to start goaltender Samuel Ersson.
In 33 games this season, Ersson has an 18-10-3 record, a 2.76 GAA, an .896 save percentage and two shutouts.
During Tuesday’s win, Ersson made 23 saves on 24 shots.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.