The Pittsburgh Penguins have positioned prime prospect Owen Pickering on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Pickering left the staff’s Saturday recreation in opposition to New Jersey on the finish of the second interval. He didn’t seem to endure a noticeable harm however did take a tough hit in opposition to the boards from Devils ahead Paul Cotter just a few shifts earlier than leaving. Regardless, Pickering will now miss at the least one week, and three video games, of motion. To fill his gap, Pittsburgh has awarded defenseman Nate Clurman with simply the second call-up of his professional profession.
Pickering has simply two factors within the first 14 NHL video games of his profession however has carried out effectively sufficient defensively to work his method as much as a top-pair function subsequent to Penguins star Kris Letang. The rookie averaged 19:19 in ice time in 5 video games previous to his harm, and even earned minutes on each particular groups models regardless of posting no scoring and a -5. He’s enjoying to his M.O., conserving opponents out of the low slot and letting his forwards do the heavy lifting – a job he honed with 12 video games, one aim and a +5 to start out the AHL season. The efficiency might not be flashy, however it’s a powerful begin for the 20-year-old, who’s in simply his first skilled season after spending the final 4 years with the WHL’s Swift Present Broncos. Pickering was far more concerned at Swift Present, serving because the membership’s captain in his closing two seasons and totaling 133 factors in 205 profession video games.
Pickering might be rapidly changed by the combo of Ryan Shea and Pierre-Olivier Joseph, the latter rejoining the Penguins by way of commerce just lately. Neither participant has confirmed very productive of their NHL minutes.
Shea stands as Pittsburgh’s lowest scorer, nonetheless looking for his first level after 26 video games this season. Joseph at the least managed two assists in 23 video games with the St. Louis Blues previous to his commerce, although he complimented it with 23 penalty minutes and a -7.
Clurman will transfer into the function of additional defender behind the duo. He has 5 factors, 10 penalty minutes and a +6 in 18 video games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, sufficient to tie for fourth on the staff’s blue-line in scoring. Clurman is a profession minor-leaguer in his first yr with the Penguins, after spending the final 4 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche group, who drafted him within the 2016 sixth-round. He’s totaled 26 factors in 5 seasons and 128 video games within the AHL.
