Three men return, one man goes out. Such is the injury rotation of the NHL Officials…

Brian Pochmara Injured at Canes vs. Penguins

Referee Brian Pochmara left Tuesday’s game between the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins due to a lower body injury. Pochmara skated the opening period, but did not return after the first intermission. No further information is available in the severity of his injury or a timetable for his return. Veteran referee Dan O’Halloran – skating in his 1,424th game – finished the final forty minutes as the lone referee, working alongside linesmen Brandon Gawryletz and Michel Cormier.

Referee Brian Pochmara left the Hurricanes/Penguins game tonight due to a lower body injury and is doubtful to return. The game will be played with three officials. #CARvsPIT — NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 6, 2019

On the bright side, we saw the return of two NHL officials from injured reserve this week.

Referee Chris Lee Makes Season Debut

Chris Lee’s 19th NHL season got off to a late start. The veteran ref was injured last last season. He last saw NHL action on April 3, working Coyotes vs. Flames in Arizona. After working games this past weekend in the AHL, the New Brunswick native made his NHL season debut on February 4, working a game between the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Linesman Kiel Murchison Returns From Leg Injury

After getting tangled up with players during a faceoff, linesman Kiel Murchison was sidelined for two weeks with an apparent leg injury. The Cloverdale, BC, native returned to the officiating lineup February 1 for a game between the Flames and Capitals.

Referee Chris Schlenker Back to Active Duty

Schlenker missed nearly two months after a hard hit took him out of the December 9th game between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators.

Referee Chris Schlenker just for crushed in the Bruins game. He’s brushing it off, thankfully. It is unreal how many NHL refs are hurt this season. It’s why we’re seeing so many refs we’ve never heard of or why so many refs are essentially working overtime — Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 10, 2018

Schlenker, a former police officer, returned to action February 2nd in Philadelphia for a game between the Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers.

Rody Remains Out

Linesman Vaughan Rody remains on injured reserve. The veteran linesman is recovering from an upper-body injury that kept him out of the postseason. There’s no timetable for his return.