There is no replacing what Sidney Crosby does for the Pittsburgh Penguins, but the man who perhaps might take his lineup spot could be Radim Zohorna.
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward was recalled by the Penguins from their AHL affiliate Thursday afternoon, a day after Crosby left Game 5 of the Penguins’ first-round playoff series against the New York Rangers because of an upper-body injury.
The Penguins have divulged few details about what ails Crosby other than to acknowledge it is an “upper-body injury” and that he was being evaluated. Crosby absorbed an unpenalized high hit from New York defenseman Jacob Trouba during the second period of Game 5.
“I’ve definitely noticed him on the ice and through camp and a few practices here,” Mike Matheson said of rookie forward Radim Zohorna.
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 24, 2021
“It’s hard to miss him with that size.”#Pens https://t.co/h1oE4DPnTp
The 26-year-old Zohorna had two goals and four assists in 17 NHL games this season and 12 goals and nine assists in 39 games for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Zohorna had two goals and three assists in four playoff games for the AHL Penguins. Counting an eight-game stint in early 2021, Zohorna has four goals and six assists in 25 career NHL games.
Zohorna, who has not appeared in an NHL playoff game, last played for the Penguins on Match 29.
The Penguins lead the series, 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at PPG Paints Arena.
