Penguins' Dupuis diagnosed with blood clot in lung, out at least 6 months

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis has been diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will be out of the lineup for at least six months while undergoing treatment with blood thinners, the club announced Wednesday.

The clot was discovered Monday after Dupuis complained about discomfort in his chest.

“Pascal had a blood clot in his leg that traveled to his lung,” said Dr. Dharmesh Vyas, the Penguins' team physician. “In medical terms, that is a deep vein thrombosis resulting in a pulmonary embolism. This is the second such incident that we know of for Pascal. The treatment is at least six months of blood thinners, during which time he will not be able to play hockey. Other than that, his condition is stable.”

Dr. Vyas stated at a press conference Wednesday that this could have been a life-threatening situation if not treated promptly, and, as such, Dupuis' focus is wholly on his health at this stage in his recovery.

Several of Dupuis' teammates, including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang, attended the press conference in a show of support.

The 35-year old was previously diagnosed with a blood clot after suffering a season-ending knee injury back in January. He returned to the lineup in October, and recorded six goals and five assists in 16 games this season.