NICK OF TIME
Nick Bjugstad skated at practice Thursday for the first time since November,
LOS ANGELES — The ice was as crowded as an L.A. freeway Thursday when the Penguins began practice at Toyota Performance Center. It was near chaos as players zigzagged and changed lanes while getting loose.
Why? The Penguins welcomed two more players back to practice, including Nick Bjugstad, a big center who hasn’t skated with the team since November. He wore a big grin and a white non-contact jersey at practice.
“It was amazing. I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “It definitely makes you appreciate the game. It’s tough sitting out with any injury but [especially] for that period of time. I’m definitely thankful I was able to recoup and am getting back to strength here.”
Bjugstad has not played since Nov. 15 after he had core-muscle surgery. The Penguins announced then that he would be out at least eight weeks.
He had been skating in mid-January but was scaled back for undisclosed reasons. Coach Mike Sullivan said four weeks ago that Bjugstad “hasn’t had a setback per se” and that “improvements and plateaus” are part of the rehabilitation process.
Bjugstad got back on the ice on an individual basis more than a week ago.
“It’s been up and down for sure,” he said.
“It’s a tough injury. Things happen throughout. A lot of times you think you get surgery, and it’s a reset button. A lot of times you have to work some other kinks out with it. So that was part of the process. We kind of expected that. Obviously, didn’t expect to be out this long.”
The 27-year-old continued: “But what are you going to do? You’ve just got to keep your head down and keep going. I tried to stay positive.
The staff’s been awesome with me. I think we’re all relieved that I was back out on the ice here.”
Bjugstad has played just 10 games this season, putting up just one point. In 32 games with the Penguins last season, he had nine goals and 14 points.
McCann on the mend
The other player returning to practice was Jared McCann, who did not play in the 2-1 loss against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday night because of an upperbody injury. The forward, who sat out practice Tuesday, started in a red non-contact jersey but changed into a normal-colored jersey about 20 minutes into practice.
Sullivan said McCann, who skated on the fourth line during line rushes Thursday, will be a game-time decision for the Friday night game in Anaheim.
Progress for two more
Injured defensemen Brian Dumoulin and John Marino both took a step forward Thursday in their comebacks.
They wore normal-colored jerseys, signifying that both of them have been cleared to practice without contact restrictions.
Sullivan was asked if the team has an idea of when they’ll return to the lineup.
“We have a sense,” Sullivan said. “I’m just not going to share it. But, obviously, the fact that they’re participating in full contact, that’s real encouraging.”
Dumoulin and Marino returned to a team practice setting Tuesday. For Dumoulin, it was his first practice in nearly three months after a gruesome ankle injury that required surgery Dec. 1. Marino has been out since taking a slap shot to the face Feb. 6 and having surgery four days later.