The Penguins will be without defenseman Jack St. Ivany for the next two months after he underwent hand surgery earlier this week-a tough blow for a team that’s been gaining serious momentum.
St. Ivany exited Sunday’s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks and didn’t return.
The team later confirmed he had surgery at UPMC Mercy Hospital, performed by Dr. John Fowler with Penguins team physician Dr.
Dharmesh Vyas assisting. The recovery timeline is set at eight weeks, which means Pittsburgh will have to navigate a crucial stretch of the season without one of their rising blue-liners.
This is especially unfortunate timing for St. Ivany, who was quietly putting together the most productive stretch of his young NHL career.
In just 17 games this season, he’s notched a personal-best 7 assists, showing signs of becoming a reliable puck-mover on the back end. His ability to jump into the rush and make smart first passes has been a subtle but important part of Pittsburgh’s recent success.
Speaking of success, the Penguins are rolling. They return home to PPG Paints Arena tomorrow night riding a four-game win streak, fresh off a clean sweep through western Canada with victories over Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Over the past two weeks, they haven’t lost in regulation-a sign that this group is starting to find its stride.
Now sitting just six points behind Carolina for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, Pittsburgh has positioned itself well heading into a pivotal stretch. With five games left before the NHL pauses for the Olympic break and the Milano Cortina Winter Games, the Penguins will need to lean on their depth, particularly on defense, to keep the momentum going.
St. Ivany’s absence will test that depth, but this is a veteran-laden team with playoff aspirations and a track record of adapting on the fly. The next few weeks will be a chance for others to step up-and for the Penguins to prove that their recent surge is no fluke.