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57 minutes ago
PHILADELPHIA – In the middle of a phenomenal season, Kris Letang may be the most valuable Pittsburgh Penguins player.
Brian Dumoulin could be one of the most underrated defensemen in the league.
In a development that could prove extremely detrimental to the team's hopes in the playoffs, both players were injured in the same match during the first half of the NHL Stadium Series game on Saturday night in Philadelphia, a 4-3 loss to the Penguins in overtime against the Flyers.
Dumoulin has had a concussion and Letang is being assessed for an upper body injury, said coach Mike Sullivan.
"It's tough, when you lose your best defense it's not easy, it's a tough challenge," Sullivan said, "but we have guys who can do it. opportunities to other guys, hopefully we will not lose any of them, no matter how long. "
Dumoulin was injured when Wayne Simmonds of Philadelphia slammed his shoulder into the chin during a shot at the boards. He was not penalized on the game.
After the match, Simmonds told reporters in Philadelphia that the hit was neck and neck.
The Penguins were not in agreement.
"It looked like he had come into contact with his head," Sidney Crosby said. "It's hard to see that."
Letang faced Simmonds after the stroke and was attacked by Flyers defender Shayne Gost in the ensuing scrum.
Juuso Riikola, a healthy scratch of the last four games, would be the next player for the Penguins. Zach Trotman would probably be Wilkes-Barre / Scranton's first call.
General Manager Jim Rutherford may also seek to add defensive depth before the Monday deadline for trading.
If Letang or Dumoulin is absent in the long run, it will be difficult for replacements to fill their shoes effectively.
"I think the guys who came out at different times this year have really done a great job perhaps not taking those minutes off their shoulders, but everyone is helping each other out and doing it," Crosby said. "Maybe that's what we're going to face. No team will be sorry for us. We must find a way to overcome that. "
In any case, the four defenders of the Penguins played admirably in the absence of the best pair of the team.
Jack Johnson and Justin Schultz each went over 30 minutes of ice time. Schultz scored a goal in the second half.
Johnson said fatigue in difficult ice conditions had not prompted the Penguins to advance two goals.
"It was harder to skate because it was not so slippery, but there is something in the open air," he said. Like when you played hockey-pelvis. You can stay outside all day, it seems.
His teammates unanimously praised Johnson, Schultz, Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel for their efforts.
"These guys played a lot of minutes and played very well," Crosby said.
Jonathan Bombulie is an editor of Tribune-Review. You can contact Jonathan by email at [email protected] or via Twitter. .
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