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Dupuis 'Definitely Coming Back 100 Percent' From Knee Injury

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without the services of Pascal Dupuis for the next six to eight months after undergoing knee surgery.

On Thursday, Dupuis said he is aiming to be back as soon as possible, but knows he can't rush the healing process.

"If it's six-to-eight [months], if you guys know me, you know I'll be pushing for six. So, it's definitely a goal of mine. Definitely looks and sounds long, but I guess you can't rush healing," Dupuis healing.

Dupuis was injured in a game against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 23. If ever there was a case of bad luck, this would be it.

Watch: Dupuis Speaks About Knee Injury, Recovery

Sidney Crosby was hit by Marc Methot, while trying to get to the net. As a result of the hit, he was launched into Dupuis and landed on the outside of his right leg.

Crosby's skates struck Dupuis up high and the referee was concerned at first about a potential laceration to Dupuis' face or neck.

"He came to me and wanted to look at my face if my neck and my face was cut because the skates, one hit me in the chest and the other one on top of the head from Sid. But, I guess the way he landed, he landed on the side of my leg. I guess Sid looked like he took the worst of it, but I'm the one crouching down behind the net," Dupuis said.

It didn't take long for Dupuis to know the injury was severe.

"Yeah, I knew it was bad just because I couldn't feel the bottom part of my leg basically. Everything felt so loose that nothing was holding it," Dupuis said.

Dupuis underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL last week. So, what was the reasoning for the delay in having the surgery?

"I tore my MCL as well as my ACL. So, I was just trying to get that part of my knee healed before going in so they didn't have to touch it. But, it didn't heal at all so they had to reconstruct the MCL as well as the ACL," Dupuis said. "Surgery went well. So, it's rehab right now, one day at a time slowly, but trying to get better here."

As for the long term, Dupuis is confident that he'll come back at 100 percent for next season.

"Definitely coming back 100 percent. That's not something I'm worried about at all," Dupuis said.

You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/sheavedice

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