Penguins lose another defenceman

The Pittsburgh Penguins have lost yet another defenceman, as veteran Jay McKee(notes) faces an absence of up to a month due to a finger infection.

“He needed to get that cleaned up and it’s going to be two to four weeks,” coach Dan Bylsma said after Wednesday’s team practice.

The announcement came just two days after the Stanley Cup champions learned top scoring defenceman Alex Goligoski(notes) will miss two to three weeks with a lower-body injury.

Pittsburgh is now down to only one healthy defenceman from its pre-season top six. Sergei Gonchar(notes) (wrist), Kris Letang(notes) (shoulder) and Brooks Orpik(notes) (undisclosed) are also hurt, leaving Mark Eaton(notes) as the last man standing from the originally projected blue-line.

Letang and Orpik returned to practice Wednesday, but it was unclear when they’ll be able to play.

Gonchar, who has missed 12 games with a broken left wrist, is expected to play Thursday night in Ottawa.

The Penguins’ health woes haven’t been limited to the defencemen.

Forwards Max Talbot(notes) (shoulder), Tyler Kennedy(notes) (groin) and Chris Kunitz(notes) (undisclosed) are also out, and reigning NHL scoring king Evgeni Malkin(notes) missed seven games earlier this season with a shoulder strain.

Pittsburgh shook off the injury problems to win their second in a row on Monday night, beating Anaheim 5-2 with no-name defencemen Deryk Engelland(notes), Ben Lovejoy(notes) and Nate Guenin(notes) — all of whom started the season in the minors — logging significant ice time.