Tyler Kennedy injured, out of Penguins' lineup for a month

Tyler Kennedy

#48 / Center / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 5-11

Weight: 183

Born: Jul 15, 1986

Definitely not the best of news for an offense that is really picking up the pace lately.  Tyler Kennedy is out 4-6 weeks with a sprained knee, an injury he sustained during the Rangers game Wednesday night.

The team's placed TK on injured reserve, so that means either Janne Pesonen or Chris Minard will stick with the club for the time being.  I guess it all depends on which guy is there in place of Kennedy and whether or not Michael Zigomanis plans on returning anytime soon (still listed day-to-day).

What does this mean for the Pens?  Well, it means a whole lot that's for sure.  Kennedy was on a healthy rotation between the fourth and first line.  He's a versatile forward to can keep pace with Sid on the wing or lay the hits and gain puck control with the likes of Zigomanis, Godard and Cooke on the deeper lines. 

But there's also the plus side.  Here's the opportunity (once again) for Janne Pesonen to show what he can do.  The number 20 that occasionally graces the ice is not that of Colby Armstrong, but instead the international superstar brought on board in Pitt to test the North American hockey terrain.  Over the next month or so this will pose as the biggest test of Pesonen's Pittsburgh career, and perhaps the best gauge for management as well in terms of handling contractual obligations with their Finnish star.