Penguins' Chinakhov Sidelined by Lower-Body Issue
Pittsburgh winger Egor Chinakhov missed Friday's 5-2 defeat to Colorado because of a lower-body injury he suffered in practice. The Penguins have not announced when he might return, and he was observed walking with a limp. Ville Koivunen took his place alongside Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak, setting up Malkin's opening goal.
Chinakhov, 25, sat out Pittsburgh’s 5-2 loss to Colorado after hurting his lower body in practice. No return date has been provided, and he was seen limping. He began the season with a goal and an assist before going five games without a point; last year he recorded 36 points in 43 games for Pittsburgh.
Ville Koivunen replaced him on the second line with Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak, assisted Malkin’s opening goal, and has three points and a plus-three in six games. Elmer Soderblom also entered, his third appearance, still seeking the form that produced 10 points in 20 games after last season’s deadline trade.
Chinakhov’s absence may affect Pittsburgh’s forward rotation, giving Koivunen a larger role and shifting pressure onto Malkin’s line. Fans and teammates could see short-term lineup instability, while a longer recovery might alter Chinakhov’s season trajectory. The situation also highlights how quickly practice injuries can ripple through a team’s depth chart, affecting coaching decisions and player development.