"It's a big step that he's back on the ice, and so I know he's excited," Pens head coach Mike Sullivan said. "It's been a long time for him. These guys, they're built to be hockey players. They want to be on the ice every day. When you can't, it's tough. I know Justin's gone through an extended period of rehab here. So for him to get back on the ice, I know he's real excited and certainly we're excited because it's a big step as far as his return to play."
Schultz, who underwent successful surgery on Oct. 14 and was given a recovery timeline of four months. took the ice on his own prior to the team's practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex wearing his skates, helmet and a track suit.
"Obviously the next step would be getting involved with our skills coach," Sullivan said. "And then inevitably getting back involved in practice with the team before he's fully prepared to participate in the games. But just the fact that he's back on the ice is a huge first step for us."
Sullivan said that the coaching staff has had Schultz sit in on all of their meetings to try and keep him in the loop as much as they can and around the team as much as they can as he works to return to the lineup.
"I think he's had an amazing attitude the whole time," Sidney Crosby said. "He comes in here and works hard and you can tell he's happy to be around the guys. It's tough when you're hurt and not really practicing with guys, traveling, things like that. So just to be around a little bit more has been good and it's been great for us to see him. And to know that he's out there, that's a good step. It means he's progressing and things are going well and that's all you can ask for."
Schultz suffered the injury in the first period of that game against the Canadiens. On the play, Schultz was checked into the corner by Tomas Plekanec and his left leg was caught awkwardly under him as he fell to the ice. Schultz appeared to be in shock right after and required help to the locker room, not putting any weight down on his leg.
"I knew right away (it was bad)," Schultz said
on the fourth episode of The Scoop podcast
. "I don't remember feeling any pain, I was in shock. I just wanted to get off the ice. I hate laying on the ice and having everyone looking at you. I just wanted to get off but I knew right away something was wrong."
