Orpik out four weeks - 04-24-11

Just another day in paradise for the Penguins on the injury front.

Three days after trading Alex Goligoski to the Stars, it was announced that one of their most dependable defensemen, Brooks Orpik, will be sidelined approximately four weeks due to a broken finger on his right hand.

Orpik suffered the injury when he blocked a shot by Sharks forward Patrick Marleau late in the first period of Wednesday's game.

In 56 games this season, Orpik has 12 points (one goal, 11 assists), a plus-nine rating and 60 penalty minutes. One of the team's top penalty killers, he has averaged 20:52 of playing tiem this season and his 88 blocked shots are third-most on the team.

EN Says: Amazing how the timing of this Goligoski trade is just awful timing when you factor in the "upper-body" injury which has sidelined Paul Martin for the past two games.

We're not slamming the trade. We like it a lot. We're just pointing out the irony in the Penguins now all of a sudden having health issues on the blue line after being relatively fine in that position.

This certainly eliminates any sort of "easing in" process they may have planned for new defenseman Matt Niskanen. He had a solid debut last night in the face of less than ideal circumstances. He's now one of the team's top four defensemen by default.

Kris Letang, who has stepped up big time already in the face of other injuries, needs to provide even more. Ditto Zbynek Michalek and Martin when ever he returns.

(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)