Pittsburgh Penguins place Sam Girard on injured reserve

The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed veteran defenseman Sam Girard on injured reserve. Girard has been sidelined since October 17, when he suffered an injury during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. The injury occurred when he was tripped while attempting to defend a breakaway, causing him to slide into the end boards.

Girard had recorded seven points in nine games this season before the injury. He is currently in the final year of a seven-year, $35 million contract. To address the roster vacancy, the Penguins have recalled forward Avery Hayes from the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Ilya Solovyov has also stepped into the lineup to cover Girard’s defensive duties.