Penguins, following positive news about Ben Kindel's condition, face off with Panthers

The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the ice against the visiting Florida Panthers on Thursday night, two days after a health scare involving Ben Kindel.

The 19-year-old forward fainted on the team flight out of Salt Lake City on Tuesday. The flight returned to the airport, and Kindel was taken to the University of Utah Hospital for further evaluation.

General manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday that Kindel suffered a case of vasovagal syncope. It is "a common, generally benign type of fainting caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure and sometimes heart rate, which temporarily reduces blood flow to the brain," according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

The Penguins canceled practice on Wednesday as they prepare to open a three-game homestand by hosting the Panthers, but they had to take the practice ice on Thursday with relief, knowing Kindel should be able to return to practice soon.

The Panthers likely aren't as happy after seeing their three-game winning streak end with a 5-1 road loss against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.

Brady Tkachuk scored and Akira Schmid made 25 saves for Florida.

Tkachuk spent his first eight seasons in Ottawa before requesting and receiving a trade this summer. In his return, he gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead 10 minutes into the game. Tkachuk has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in his past five games, including two natural hat tricks.

The Panthers had scored 18 goals over their previous three games.

With Thursday being the second of back-to-back games, it could mark the NHL debut of Florida goalie Cooper Black, who was recalled from Charlotte of the AHL with Jacob Markstrom out 10 to 14 days with an upper-body injury.

Black, a 25-year-old Dartmouth product, joined the Panthers organization as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and signed a two-year, two-way contract extension in June.

"He'll get some games," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "He's been good. He's been good in practice. He looks like he fits. He looks comfortable. It's the right time for him to get in."

At 6-foot-8, Black will become the tallest starting goaltender in NHL history when he makes his debut.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is in a 1-6-1 rut since winning its first two games of the season. The Penguins just concluded an 0-4-0 road trip.

On Monday night in Utah, Pittsburgh rallied from a 5-2 deficit to get within 5-4 on Declan Carlile's goal at 14:55 of the third period. However, the Penguins could not get the equalizer as Kindel's point-blank attempt was saved by Sebastian Cossa in the final minute.

Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell each had a goal and an assist for the Penguins, and Bryan Rust recorded two assists. Arturs Silovs made 24 saves.

The Penguins had scored three goals or fewer in each of their previous seven games.

"My viewpoint is that we're facing some adversity right now," Muse said. "We have to stay together. We have to just be looking to make gains here each day, definitely each game and we have to make the way we play on the defensive side a priority and consistent."

Karlsson has six points (two goals, four assists) in a four-game point streak.

Rust left the game in the second period due to a lower-body injury after crashing awkwardly into the boards. He didn't return to action and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, head coach Dan Muse said Thursday.

The Penguins swept three games from the Panthers last season. Captain Sidney Crosby had two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win on Oct. 23 in Sunrise, Fla. Evgeni Malkin accounted for three goals and an assist in a 9-4 rout on April 4 in Pittsburgh, and Rakell scored two goals and Crosby collected a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win the next day in Pittsburgh.

--Field Level Media