Penguins’ Boko Imama underwent surgery, expected to miss 4-6 months

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Saturday that forward Boko Imama underwent surgery to repair a bicep injury, and the expected recovery time is four-to-six months.

“Imama underwent surgery to repair a bicep injury on March 29,” the Penguins said in a press release. “The surgery was performed at UPMC Mercy Hospital by Penguins Head Team Physician Dr. Dharmesh Vyas and Dr. John Fowler of UPMC Sports Medicine.”

Imama last played March 25 when Pittsburgh faced the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 6-1 losing effort.

In 16 games with the Penguins this season, Imama scored one goal and recorded 30 penalty minutes. He also played 24 games with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, porudcing three goals and two assists for five points and 47 penalty minutes in 24 games.

In 31 career NHL games, Imama has two goals and 47 penalty minutes with the Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes.

Imama has spent eight seasons in the AHL, scoring 32 goals and 45 assists for 77 points, recording 769 penalty minutes in 334 career regular-season games.

Taken in the sixth round by the Lightning in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Imama, a native of Montreal, Que., spent five seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. In 2016-17, Imama scored 41 goals and 55 points with 105 penalty minutes, helping the Saint John Sea Dogs win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy and earn a birth in the Memorial Cup.

The Penguins are 29-34-11 with 69 points, seventh in the Metropolitan Division. They have lost three straight, but are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. This season, Pittsburgh has a minus-50 goal differential.

The team’s next game is Sunday as they host the Senators, then they go on a three-game road trip, facing the St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks.