Kahun still in concussion protocol

Dominik Kahun, who remains in the NHL’s concussion protocol, is expected to sit out the game Friday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins winger suffered his concussion in a win Jan. 19 against the Boston Bruins, leaving that game in the second period. He did not play Jan. 21 against the Flyers, which was the Penguins’ final game before the All-Star break.

Kahun still was not cleared to practice Thursday with the team in Cranberry, the first after eight days off for the players. But coach Mike Sullivan said Kahun skated earlier in the day with skills development coach Ty Hennes.

“He’s still going through the concussion protocol,” he said.

“That’s part of it. We’ll see how he responds. But the fact that he’s back on the ice suggests progress.”

Kahun was skating on Evgeni Malkin’s left wing at the time of his concussion.

In 48 games, the 24-year-old who played for the Chicago Blackhawks last season has 10 goals, 17 assists and a plus-9 rating.

“It’s just another challenge that this team has been faced with,” Sullivan said of Kahun’s injury.

“Dom’s played some real good games for us. He’s a real good player. He’s got good offensive instincts. He’s scored some big goals for us.

”So, when a guy like that goes out of the lineup, someone else has to fill the void.”

With Kahun not practicing Thursday, Bryan Rust and

Patric Hornqvist were the wingers on Malkin’s line.

Rust, who leads the team with 21 goals, moved over to the left wing after thriving on the right side the past couple of months.

In the meantime, Jared McCann and Dominik Simon skated Thursday as linemates for Sidney Crosby.

Schultz likely to play

Veteran defenseman Justin Schultz said he hopes to play Friday night against the Flyers after he remained in Pittsburgh during the AllStar break to continue rehabbing his injury.

Schultz suffered a lowerbody injury in the Dec. 17 win in Calgary. He first stepped back onto the ice more than three weeks ago and had a full-contact practice with the Penguins Jan. 20.

The Penguins considered dressing Schultz a day later in their final game before the All-Star break but decided to hold him out.

“There’s no point in rushing it, obviously,” he said.

“It’s still early enough where you want to make sure you’re 100% healthy and ready to go when I go in.”

If Schultz plays Friday night,Juuso Riikola or Chad Ruhwedel will be a healthy scratch.

Status quo for ‘Dumo’

Sullivan gave a puzzled look when asked for an injury update on “Brian.”

“Brian Dumoulin,” he said after thinking about the question for a few seconds. “I usually don’t call him Brian. We call him ‘Dumo.’ So you stumped me there.”

Sullivan indicated that “Dumo,” who has been out since Nov. 30, has yet to start skating.

Friday will mark exactly two months since the defenseman had surgery to repair lacerated tendons in his left ankle at UPMC Presbyterian.

The Penguins said the day of the surgery that he would miss at least eight weeks.

Sullivan said Dumoulin, who had a team-best plus-17 rating when he got hurt, is “still participating in the office aspect” of his rehab but is making progress.

The Captain on Kobe

Crosby was asked about the death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.

“I didn’t have the chance to meet him,” he said. “I was shocked. I didn’t believe it when I first heard it . ... It’s just heartbreaking, for his family and all the families involved. He inspired so many people. He’s a legend ... ”