Penguins' Teddy Blueger game-time decision Tuesday vs. Panthers

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Teddy Blueger has been unavailable since he went down with a fractured jaw he suffered during a shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 23. The injury required him to undergo surgery the following day. 

Blueger was expected to miss anywhere between six to eight weeks of action, but Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters Monday the 27-year-old will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's home matchup against the Florida Panthers. 

"It just creates a deeper lineup, a more balanced lineup," Sullivan explained about Blueger's return to the active squad, according to Wes Crosby of the NHL's website. "Gives us the ability to play guys in certain situations that help them play to their strengths." 

Blueger recorded eight goals and nine assists across 40 games before the injury that cost him the past 16 contests. He practiced on Monday and presumably could be on track to take the ice for Friday's home game versus the Vegas Golden Knights if he doesn't play Tuesday. 

"I think everything that I've done leading up to [returning], all the contact, the puck protection, all that stuff has felt really good," Blueger said, adding he will play wearing a full face shield. 

The Penguins fell to 34-14-9 on the campaign via Friday's overtime loss at the Carolina Hurricanes and began Monday tied for second in the Metropolitan Division standings with 77 points along with the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh and New York both trail the first-place Hurricanes by six points.