![\"NHL:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/NHL-Vancouver-Canucks-at-Pittsburgh-Penguins-27384896.jpg\")
Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Now that he is healthy, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty has been activated from IR \u2014 and was promptly sent to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Sunday. In a corresponding move, forward Joona Koppanen has been recalled from WBS ahead of the Penguins\u2019 four-game Western swing that begins Monday in Seattle.<\/p>\n
McGroarty has missed the past six games because of a concussion but returned to full capacity in practice a few days ago. He has two goals, three points in 16 games with the Penguins, and four goals, seven points at the AHL level this season. With the Penguins seemingly happy with their line combinations, McGroarty would seem more likely to get playing time with WBS right now.<\/p>\n
Koppanen has one assist in 10 games at the NHL level this season. He has six goals, 11 points in 22 games with WBS.<\/p>\n
Jones Deals With New Injury<\/p>\n
Penguins defenseman Caleb Jones could fall into that old saw about luck \u2014 if he didn\u2019t have bad luck, he would have no luck at all. Jones was back in Pittsburgh over the weekend to be evaluated for a new injury.<\/p>\n
Jones played in just seven games in October before he was sidelined by a lower-body injury. Finally back to playing health, he was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton last week on a conditioning assignment. In his first game there, Wednesday, he sustained an upper-body injury.<\/p>\n
Jones, who signed as a free agent last summer, had a locker in the practice facility. Penguins coach Dan Muse confirmed only that Jones was being medically evaluated.<\/p>\n
Ben Kindel Shrugs Off Slump<\/p>\n
Rookie center Ben Kindel has gone 16 games now without a goal. That\u2019s not to say his game has fallen apart \u2014 he has six assists over that span and has continued to show good decisions and playmaking skills.<\/p>\n
If he\u2019s stewing over the lack of goals, he wasn\u2019t showing it Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long year, and there\u2019s going to be ups and downs, and there\u2019s going to be times when you\u2019re scoring and times when you\u2019re not,\u201d Kindel said. \u201cI think it\u2019s just the stuff in between. You control what you can control. Sometimes the puck\u2019s not going, so you\u2019ve got to be doing other things to help your team. That\u2019s really what I focus on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t feel snakebit or in a slump. Like I said, it\u2019s a long season.\u201d <\/p>\n
In 44 games, the 18-year-old has eight goals, 20 points. He has played in a few different roles, including having Evgeni Malkin on his wing, and, recently, centering towering wingers Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha.<\/p>\n
Penguins\u2019 Steady Seven<\/p>\n
The Penguins, like a lot of teams, have dealt with several injuries this season, and some players have been healthy scratches at times, but there are seven skaters who have not missed a game. That\u2019s a significant portion of the 18 skaters who dress for games.<\/p>\n
The seven who have played all 47 are defensemen Kris Letang, Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea; and forwards Sidney Crosby, Tommy Novak, Connor Dewar, Anthony Mantha.<\/p>\n
Probably the two most notable names on that list are long-time franchise players Crosby and Letang, who are each 38, but it\u2019s an impressive feat for all.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, it\u2019s just nice to have the opportunity to play every game,\u201d Wotherspoon said. \u201cYou\u2019ve just got to take care of your body. It\u2019s a hard-hitting game. You\u2019re going to have some bumps and bruises. It\u2019s just pain tolerance at this point in the season. There\u2019s a lot of tough guys in here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: ben kindel<\/a> caleb jones<\/a> joona koppanen<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> rutger mcgroarty<\/a> Shelly Anderson<\/a> <\/p>\n