Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov out week-to-week with undisclosed injury

Kulikov was forced out of Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers with the injury. He had logged just nine shifts and 8:13 of ice time before exiting. It was just his fourth game since the Penguins acquired him on March 3, trade deadline day, from the Anaheim Ducks for forward Brock McGinn and a 2024 third-round draft pick. In addition to eating McGinn’s $2.75 million cap hit through 2024-25, the Ducks retained 50 percent salary on Kulikov’s $2.5 million AAV, meaning the Penguins were using just $1.125 million of cap space on their new blueline acquisition.

Kulikov, 32, had one point in his first four games with Pittsburgh, averaging 14:09 of ice time in his three completed contests while playing on the third pair with Jan Rutta. The two were off to a so-so start as a duo. In 35:25 together at 5-on-5, the Pens had been outshot 17-12 and outchanced 12-7. Kulikov, however, was being used on the penalty kill, as was new acquisition Bonino. Losing both is a blow to a team ranked 15^th on the PK with a 79.7 percent efficiency rate.

The Penguins solider on missing their two new pieces in the midst of a battle for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. With 78 points, they hold down the first wild card spot at the moment. They have a game in hand on the Florida Panthers, who sit five points out of a playoff spot, and are seven points up on the Buffalo Sabres, who have played the same number of games. The Pens host the lowly Montreal Canadiens Tuesday night.