Gonchar Out 4-6 Weeks

Pittsburgh Penguin coach Dan Bylsma confirmed at a press conference this afternoon that top defenseman and power play quarterback Sergei Gonchar sustained a broken bone in his wrist in last night's 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues

Bylsma announced that Gonchar will be out 4-6 weeks.

Gonchar will not need surgery, just a cast to immobilize the area and let it heal on its own during that time.

In Sarge's place in the lineup will go veteran Martin Skoula, who Pens' GM Ray Shero signed in training camp for just this role.

Skoula is no Gonchar, for sure, but he is a veteran presence who can step into Pittsburgh's top 6 in #55's absence

Expect Skoula to play with Mark Eaton, and have Kris Letang to slide up to the #1 pairing with Brooks Orpik.

Alex Goligoski will probably still play with Jay McKee in what, arguably, has been Pittsburgh's best pairing this year so far.

In truth, it hurts to lose Gonchar for any period of time. After all, he was out for the majority of last season to a pre-season shoulder injury and there's no doubt the Penguins played poorly in his absence.

On the other hand, 4-6 weeks is not an overwhelming period. The Penguins have the depth to compensate for Gonchar being out of the lineup during that time.

Missing only 4-6 weeks is a much better scenario than the injury Gonchar suffered last season, and is certainly better than a season-ending injury.

More than anything I'll be anxious to see how Pittsburgh's power play does in Gonchar's absence. It's been toiling in the middle of the NHL pack this year thus far, although it did go 2 for 4 last night.

We'll see how well Letang and Goligoski can lead the way on the man advantage.

More later this week.