Penguins' Dupuis needs ACL surgery

Friday, 12.27.2013 / 1:03 PM

By NHL.com Staff - / 2013-2014 At the Rink Blog

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It was a mixed bag for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, as defenseman Brooks Orpik and forward Tanner Glass were activated off injured reserve and appear set to play Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

However, forward Pascal Dupuis, who left the Penguins' game against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 23 after just two shifts, needs surgery to repair an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The injury could sideline him for the remainder of the season.

"Pascal Dupuis will be going for ACL knee surgery in a couple of weeks and is out indefinitely," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "The timetable is likely that he'll be out for the remainder of the season but we'll see after the surgery in a couple weeks."

Dupuis had seven goals and 20 points while playing in all 39 games this season. He scored 20 goals in 48 games last season and has shown the ability to play anywhere from a top-line role with Sidney Crosby to more of a checking-line assignment.

"There's a lot that he brings," Bylsma said of Dupuis. "He's also a big part of that dressing room. That is part of what we'll miss from Pascal."

Orpik hasn't played since Dec. 7 and would be an important piece to a blue line still without All-Star Kris Letang as well as veterans Paul Martin and Rob Scuderi.

"We have seven healthy [defensemen]. We'll find out who the coaches put in but I'm excited to get back in there," said Orpik, who skated Friday on a pairing with Deryk Engelland.

Glass, who broke his right hand and has been out since Nov. 23, skated at left wing on the fourth line with Zach Sill and Craig Adams. Scuderi, out since Oct. 26 due to an ankle injury that required surgery, skated as an extra defenseman, paired with Brian Dumoulin.

Also encouraging for the Penguins was center Evgeni Malkin taking part in his first practice since sustaining a lower-body injury Dec. 14 against the Detroit Red Wings. Malkin did not skate on a line, however, indicating he won't be in the lineup Friday.

Here's how the lineups could look when the Penguins face the Hurricanes:

PENGUINS

Chris Kunitz - Sidney Crosby - Joe Vitale

Chris Conner - Jussi Jokinen - James Neal

Harry Zolnierczyk - Brandon Sutter - Chuck Kobasew

Tanner Glass - Zach Sill - Craig Adams

Brooks Orpik - Deryk Engelland

Matt Niskanen - Olli Maatta

Robert Bortuzzo - Simon Despres

Marc-Andre Fleury

Jeff Zatkoff

Injured: Evgeni Malkin (lower body), Rob Scuderi (ankle), Pascal Dupuis (knee), Paul Martin (leg), Andrew Ebbett (ankle), Kris Letang (elbow), Tomas Vokoun (blood clot), Jayson Megna (lower body), Beau Bennett (wrist)