Add Orpik To The Injured List
Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 10, 09:56 PM | Hype this story!
After leaving tonight’s game in the first period, defenseman Brooks Orpik did not return to action and will be re-evaluated Wednesday.
Just before leaving the game, Orpik collided awkwardly with a Bruin skater and fell to the ice. He returned to his defensive positioning in front of Marc-Andre Fleury for a few seconds until he was able to retreat to the bench.
While the team has not yet announced his injury, Shelly Anderson of the Post-Gazette speculates that it could be his hip.
We’ll have more on this as it becomes available.
Comments
Pens1967
Nov 10, 10:00 PM
It didn’t look like an especially hard or heavy hit nor did Orpik appear to go awkwardly into the end boards. I suppose it could be a hip pointer – I understand those are pretty painful.
Matt Bodenschatz
Nov 10, 10:44 PM
I had a hip pointer a few years back. Quite painful, and a bit nagging, as well. Let’s just hope it’s nothing serious.
Kevin
Nov 11, 01:22 AM
Any chance of starting a graph with Player, Injury, Out since, and projected return coming from you guys soon? I find that I need one…
Also, when is the time to decide these call-ups are not working out?
Both Connor and Bourque have great speed and even seem to have a bit of skill, moreso Bourque I would say.
Having them both on the ice though is causing a size issue in my belief. Thoughts?
DaBich
Nov 11, 05:50 AM
Dang, just what we need, another injury!
Pens1967
Nov 11, 07:14 AM
Personally, I like Connor better than Borque. Connor seems more in the Kennedy or Talbot mold as a hard working 4th line energy guy. Borque, otoh, seems to know what to do, but is not strong enough to be an effective on the cycle or in front of the net and not skilled enough to be top 4 winger. Maybe now that he’s gotten to play in Boston in front of Dad and family, he can be released.
DaBich
Nov 11, 10:25 AM
Pens, I think you may be on in your assessment of Bourque and Conner, but otoh (I like that abbreviation) they really haven’t had any less luck than anyone else in the last 5 games. Who knows how they’d do if we had 2 or 3 of our regulars back?
Pens1967
Nov 11, 11:07 AM
Well, Borque did get chances when everyone except Talbot was healthy and didn’t really show anything. At least during the exhibition season, Connor showed hustle and desire.
Ben Schmidt
Nov 11, 01:13 PM
I have to say, I’m in agreement with Kevin. It may be time to try rotating the call-ups and see if someone else works out better. It isn’t necessarily an indictment of the play of Bourque or Conner, just a recognition that maybe the team needs a different sort of spark than those two provide.
As such, it might not be a bad time to bring up Caputi for another cup of coffee – he’s not as fast, but he’s got the size and tenacity that might be more in line with what the Pens need right now. The risk is that Bayda has probably earned a call-up moreso than Caputi, and may take it poorly if he’s passed over again, but I do think the Pens need to bring up some size at this stage in the game, and that’s something Bayda doesn’t have (though even Bayda would be a bigger option than Bourque or Conner).
Right now, size and strength makes for an easier simplification than raw speed, and I really do think the Penguins need to simplify their game more than they have been. They are trying too much for the tic-tac-toe plays, and not enough for the bang-and-crash plays, and some of that is simply due to the makeup of the roster.
christopher knapp
Nov 11, 04:15 PM
if the penguin lose two more game i am give up the penguins
christopher knapp
Nov 11, 04:19 PM
penguins you really suck on the power play and neeed a new coach
christopher knapp
Nov 11, 04:22 PM
when is malkin and tabolt coming back with the penguins this year
Ben Schmidt
Nov 11, 04:49 PM
@Christopher Knapp – You do realize that at one point last season the Pens lost five in a row, and still were able to win the Cup, right?
Then again, considering the “need a new coach” comment, I have to wonder if you aren’t simply a troll. Any team missing 6 players (including half(!) of the opening night blueline) shouldn’t be expected to do all that well.
In case you aren’t a troll – by the end of the month, most, if not all, of the injured players should be back.
Ben Schmidt
Nov 11, 04:57 PM
All of this does make want to make an additional comment though: when a team is missing 6 players to injury, including its top 3 defensemen, one of its top 2 players, and one of its best goal scorers, I don’t think it is merely an “excuse” to say the team is wracked with injuries. I’d like to see any team lose a quarter of their opening night lineup practically all at once and not see a massive downward plunge in the quality of play from the team.
christopher knapp
Nov 11, 06:23 PM
when is malkin and tabolt is coming back
christopher knapp
Nov 11, 06:41 PM
penguins should sign peter frosberg
DaBich
Nov 12, 08:24 AM
Zach and Ben, I do believe Christopher is from overseas. Hence the questions and comments.
Christopher, one NEVER gives up on one’s team if one is a TRUE fan =)
We don’t need Peter Forsberg. Our guys will be back in the lineup soon.
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