Orpik skates

Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik, out since being assaulted by Boston enforcer Shawn Thornton during a 3-2 loss at TD Garden last Saturday, skated with two other injured players, defenseman Rob Scuderi and winger Tanner Glass, before the team's game-day skate at Consol Energy Center this morning.

None of those three joined their teammates for the skate.

Orpik was diagnosed with a concussion after Thornton knocked him down -- there are conflicting perspectives on whether he did it by kicking Orpik's skates out from under him -- and punched him in the head twice after he was on the ice.

Orpik has told team officials he remembers nothing of that evening after the national anthem.

Thornton is scheduled to have a hearing with Brendan Shanahan, who handles supplemental discipline for the league, this afternoon.

The severity of injuries is taken into consideration when punishments such as suspensions are being considered, and it is hard to say how Orpik getting back on the ice might affect the suspension Thornton will receive.

Thornton was assessed a match penalty for the assault, and was suspended indefinitely in the wake of his attack on Orpik.