Pittsburgh Penguins News

Letang will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury and the fact that he didn’t travel to Dallas means that he likely won’t play Wednesday in Chicago either.

It remains to be known when Letang got hurt, but he will be held out of the lineup in Saturday’s outdoor game vs. the Flyers. Letang joins Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley, which leaves the Penguins’ blueline extremely thin. Ron Hainsey is expected to play big minutes in his Penguins debut with Letang sidelined.

Malkin has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury, but he skated on the third line in Monday's practice as well as taking reps on the top power play unit, so all signs point towards him playing tomorrow. However, Mike Sullivan listed him as a game-time decision so monitor his status in tomorrow's morning skate.

Hayes has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury, but is expected to play tonight vs. the Ducks. If Hayes can play, Matt Puempel will be the healthy scratch. He comes into Tuesday with 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points) in 47 games.

Letang has missed the last six games with a knee injury, but will be back in alongside Brian Dumoulin and on the top power play unit tonight vs. the Predators. Letang has four goals and 19 assists (23 points) in 30 games this season.

Letang missed the final six games before the All-Star break, but was on the ice for Monday’s practice and could be back in the lineup Tuesday vs. the Predators. Monitor Letang’s status during Tuesday’s morning skate.

Malkin will miss tomorrow’s game and will be held out of the All-Star game. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan said that Malkin will be re-evaluated and the Penguins should offer a more detailed timetable when they know more.

Hayes left Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury and was seen post-game wearing a brace on his left leg. After undergoing an MRI this morning it was determined that he will miss 2-3 weeks, so expect Matt Puempel to draw into the lineup on Monday.

Hayes left Sunday’s game after playing just 8:41 TOI and did not return. Hayes was seen walking stiffly with a brace on his left leg after the game, which isn’t a good sign for his availability for Monday’s game. Hayes will be evaluated on Monday, so expect an update later today.

Nedeljkovic, 21, played 30 minutes after replacing Cam Ward and stopped all 17 shots he faced in his first taste of the NHL. Nedeljkovic returns to Charlotte where he has gone 5-12-0 with a 3.30 GAA and .884 SV% in 18 games this season.

Nedeljkovic, 21, was a second round pick (No. 37 overall) in 2014 and this is his first NHL call-up. Cam Ward has started 19 games in a row, so either Nedeljkovic is up to serve as his backup or so the Hurricanes can get a look at him at the NHL level. The American born netminder has gone 5-12-0 with a 3.30 GAA and .884 SV% with Charlotte and 2-0-0 with 2.83 GAA and.921 SV% in a brief stint with the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Letang was hurt Saturday vs. the Red Wings and will miss at least a few weeks with a lower-body injury. The Penguins moved him to IR this morning, so he has to miss at least four games, but it sounds like he will miss more time. Justin Schultz’s stock rises again with his movement to the top power play.

Jarry served as the Penguins backup for the last two games, but Matt Murray (lower-body) is set to return to the lineup tonight in Washington, so Jarry heads back to the AHL, where he is 14-5-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .921 SV% this season.