Sep 29, 2008 - 6:50 PM
0 shoutsTORONTO (Ticker) -- Though the regular season has yet to begin, the Pittsburgh Penguins already have suffered a hard hit.
The Penguins will be without top defenseman Sergei Gonchar for up to six months, according to a published report on Monday.
TSN of Canada reported Gonchar will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair his dislocated left shoulder and will miss between four and six months.
The 34-year-old Russian was injured in the Penguins' preseason opener on September 20 against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being checked by David Koci.
Gonchar recorded 12 goals and 53 assists in 73 games last season. Drafted 14th overall by Washington in 1992, the four-time All-Star has collected 185 tallies and 615 points in 904 career contests with the Capitals, Boston Bruins and Penguins.
Pittsburgh opens the regular season in Stockholm, Sweden against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
