Penguins' Olli Maatta tests positive for mumps, two others test negative

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta has tested positive for the mumps, the team announced Friday. Goalie Thomas Greiss and defenseman Robert Bortuzzo tested negative.

Maatta is the third Penguins player to test positive for the viral infection. Captain Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup Thursday night after missing three games, but forward Beau Bennett remains sidelined after testing positive on Tuesday. 

A team intern working with the radio broadcast crew is also infected, according ESPN.com.

Pittsburgh beat the Colorado Avalanche in overtime Thursday 1-0 to improve to 21-6-4, first place in the Metropolitan Division.

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Maatta has played in 20 games this season, scoring one goal and nine points. He missed two weeks in November after having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor on his thyroid.

Including Maatta, at least 16 NHL players have been infected with the virus this season. The first case was reported more than two months ago, but the highly contagious infection continues to spread around the league. The disease may have spread to the minor leagues, too. Joey Crabb, a forward for the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate, is suspected to be infected.

- Phil Watson