Kucherov appeared to suffer the injury after falling awkwardly into the boards during the first period. Luckily, it appears the 23-year-old avoided serious injury.
In the meantime, while Kucherov's status for Saturday's game against New Jersey is not yet known, the team recalled forward Cory Conacher from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, according to Smith.
Through seven games, Kucherov has tallied just one goal and six assists.
Kucherov appeared to suffer the injury after falling awkwardly into the boards during the first period. Luckily, it appears the 23-year-old avoided serious injury.
In the meantime, while Kucherov's status for Saturday's game against New Jersey is not yet known, the team recalled forward Cory Conacher from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, according to Smith.
Through seven games, Kucherov has tallied just one goal and six assists.
PHILADELPHIA - Pittsburgh won three of its four games without defenseman Kris Letang in the lineup and there is a chance the Norris Trophy candidate could be back in uniform when the Penguins renew their rivalry with the Flyers in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
Sidelined by an upper-body injury suffered on Oct. 18 in Montreal, Letang was examined by a doctor on Friday before boarding the team's flight to Philadelphia.
"He's getting closer for sure," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told the team's website. "Obviously, he's a big part of our team and we're a better team when he's a part of our lineup."
The same can be said of captain Sidney Crosby, who has two goals and one assist in two games since returning from his third concussion in six years.
Pittsburgh is 2-0 with its captain in the lineup and if history is any indication, Crosby will get an earful when he steps on the ice at the Wells Fargo Center. Crosby has scored more goals against the Flyers (33 in 55 games) than he has against any other NHL team.
While the Penguins (5-2-1) are coming off Tuesday night's 4-2 home win over the New York Islanders, the Flyers (3-4-1) are coming off a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes, whose only two wins of the season have come against Philadelphia.
Slow starts have been an Achilles' heel for the Flyers, who surrendered the first goal in each of their four home games and have been outscored 8-1 in first periods this season, including 2-0 against Arizona on Tuesday.
"The first period was not pretty and we know that," Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. "We need to find a way to come out stronger."
"We did some good things sporadically," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "But you don't win games by doing a few good things sporadically throughout the game. You have to be good from start to finish, individually, collectively and that's how you win games."
Giroux is still seeking his first goal of the season but leads the NHL with nine assists. He is on a seven-game point streak, which ties the second-longest of his career. He also recorded a seven-game streak from Jan.14-25, 2011 and posted a nine-game streak from Dec. 11-30, 2013.
Flyers right wing Jake Voracek leads the team and ranks third in the NHL with 33 shots this season. He has three goals.
Philadelphia defenseman Andrew MacDonald (1 goal, 1 assist, minus-3) could be a healthy scratch for the first time this season in favor of Nick Schultz on Saturday.
Sullivan said Marc-Andre Fleury (5-2-1, 2.97 GAA) will be between the pipes for the Penguins on Saturday.
Flyers coach Dave Hakstol has a tougher decision. Both Steve Mason (2-4-1, 3.15 GAA) and 1-0-0, 4.47) have struggled. Neuvirth was pulled from each of his first two starts.
Penguins forward Carl Hagelin, who is struggling with one goal in eight games, was checked into the boards from behind against the Islanders but practiced on Friday and is expected to play, despite sporting stitches and a black left eye.
The United States and Canada will take their long-standing junior rivalry outdoors for the first time at the 2018 World Junior Hockey Championship in Buffalo.
USA Hockey confirmed Friday afternoon that the rivals' preliminary-round matchup - on Dec. 29, 2017 - will be staged at New Era Field, home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
The Orchard Park, NY., venue is easily accessible to fans of both countries on either side of the border, ostensibly making it the ideal spot to host the first-ever outdoor game for a top-level IIHF-sanctioned event.
"The U.S.-Canada rivalry is as good as it gets in sport," USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean said in a press release. "And to have an outdoor game between the two countries as part of the World Juniors in hockey-rich Western New York will be spectacular."
KeyBank Center and HarborCenter - both also based in Buffalo - will host the other games throughout the tournament.
Bob Plager's number will be retired in a pregame ceremony before the Blues host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 2, the club announced Friday.
The 73-year-old has been with the franchise since its inception in 1967; first as a player until 1975-76, and then in various other roles, including head coach, director of pro scouting, and director of player development.
His number was previously raised to the rafters when the Blues honored him for his franchise-long commitment and service, but it was never officially retired, and was worn most recently by defenseman Barret Jackman.
The Detroit Red Wings allowed 10 goals in their first two games of the season, both losses. They've allowed eight in six games since - all wins.
The streak continued Thursday in St. Louis, a 2-1 win over the Blues in a shootout. And goaltenders Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard shouldn't be paying for any meals at team dinners.
No puck
Detroit's been outshot in four of six games on their current run, and six of eight games overall, including by 16 in game two and 15 in game four. The Red Wings aren't a positive possession team - their 44.71 percent rate is second last in the league - and likely won't be this season.
In other words, goaltending will continue to determine Detroit's fate.
Mrazek has a .925 save percentage in six games, while Howard's at an unsustainable .984 in two games. The Red Wings' .923 save percentage as a team ranks third in the NHL.
Middle of the pack
Last season, Detroit finished 15th in the league with a .910 save percentage. Not bad, but not elite. It was good enough to get the club in the playoffs, and continue the club's streak, but barely. The Red Wings' post-All-Star break .898 save percentage was fourth-worst in the NHL.
Mrazek and Howard need to sustain their play all season for Detroit to make some noise, but that's not exactly a recipe for success. Eventually, the goalies are going to need some help.
Eventually, that ghastly possession number has to go up. Otherwise the Red Wings will be going down.
The Colorado Avalanche forward showcased his array of talents recently by nailing a no-look, half-court shot while rocking a Jamal Murray jersey at a Denver Nuggets practice facility.
"It don't mean anything if you don't win at the end," the 25-year-old said after his first career multi-goal game in a 3-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated's Joshua Kloke.
Here are three things you need to know about Marchessault, who you probably hadn't heard of until about a week ago:
1. Undrafted
Marchessault's name wasn't called during the 2011 NHL Draft, despite leading the Quebec Ramparts in scoring in 2010-11, with 40 goals and 95 points in 68 games. He added 11 goals and a league-leading 33 points in 18 playoff games.
After signing an AHL deal with the Connecticut Whale, Marchessault quickly proved he could score at the minor-league level, with 24 goals in 76 games in 2011-12. And his impressive maiden season led to an entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Marchessault scored another 21 goals in 2012-13, finishing with a career-high 67 points in the minors. He played two pointless games with the Blue Jackets.
He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2014 trade deadline, eventually scoring his first NHL goal with the club. He played 45 games with the Lightning last season, scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists.
The Panthers signed Marchessault as a free agent on July 1, to a two-year, $1.5-million deal, which is looking like one of the best of the offseason. It's fair to say Florida probably didn't expect this kind of production, but the Panthers will certainly accept it.
2. Small and skilled
Marchessault is listed at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds. For comparison's sake, his former teammate Tyler Johnson is 5-foot-8 and 183 pounds. In other words, Marchessault is part of the transition the league is making toward smaller and more skilled forwards. Today's game is all about speed and pace, and if you can't keep up, you're no good.
Early on this season, it appears Marchessault has something to offer.
The kid's proven his chops when it comes to production. He ripped up the QMJHL as he got older, and finished as his team's leading scorer as soon as he arrived in the AHL. He finished sixth in the league in assists in 2014-15, racking up 43. He's got the vision, and the offensive talent.
"Every year I was a surprise," Marchessault told Sportsnet's Luke Fox this week. "I fuel off people that don't believe."
Doubted every step of the way, Marchessault is clearly reveling in proving people wrong. As he should be.
"It wasn't the easiest path I had, but it was a different one," he said. "I made it here."
"In life you make your chances," he said. "If you work hard, good things can happen to you. It's a process."
One Marchessault clearly trusts. And as he learns to play with Barkov and Jagr, and they learn to play with him, the process will continue to bear fruit.
"It's going to go better," he said.
At this point, Jonathan Marchessault deserves the benefit of the doubt.
