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Pittsburgh Penguins News

The Penguins have assigned Ville Koivunen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Koivunen is one of five players returning to the AHL after the Penguins regular season finished on Tuesday. Koivunen split his season between the AHL and NHL and figures to be one of the first forward call-ups if the Penguins need reinforcements in the playoffs. He had seven points (2G / 5A) in 39 NHL games this season.

Ville Koivunen
The Penguins have assigned Avery Hayes to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

Hayes is one of five players returning to the AHL after the Penguins regular season finished on Tuesday. Hayes finishes with five goals and no assists in 16 games with the Penguins this season, and returns to the AHL where he has 38 points (23G / 16A) in 40 games.

Avery Hayes
Livanavage is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday.

With Pittsbrugh sitting nearly half their roster vs. St. Louis on Tuesday, Jake Livanage will make his NHL debut as he draws into the Penguins' lineup. The 21-year-old undrafted defensemen signed an entry-level contract earlier in the week after completing his college career with the University of North Dakota (NCAA) and putting up five goals and 25 points in 39 games in 2025-26.

Jake Livanavage
Graves is expected to be back in the Penguins' lineup on Tuesday.

With Pittsburgh expected to sit nearly half their regular roster on Tuesday vs. St. Louis, Ryan Graves will draw back into the lineup for just the 2nd time since March 22nd. The 30-year-old shut down defensemen has appeared in 21 games with Pittsburgh this season, struggling offensively with just one goal and and 20 SOG while constantly finding himself the odd-man out of the lineup.

Ryan Graves
Hayes is expected to be back in the Penguins' lineup on Tuesday.

Hayes was a healthy scratch for Pittsburgh's previous contest but will return to the lineup for his 16th game of the season on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. The 23-year-old rookie has enjoyed a brief, but successful first stint in the NHL, with three goals, 12 PIMs and 22 SOG in 15 games played.

Avery Hayes
Kindel is expected to be back in the Penguins' lineup on Tuesday.

Kindel was given a game off to rest for the Penguins' previous contest but will draw back into the lineup for Game 82 on Tuesday vs. St. Louis. The 18-year-old future star has enjoyed an incredibly successful rookie campaign in the NHL with 17 goals, 34 points and 150 SOG in 76 games played.

Ben Kindel
Girard (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Samuel Girard. The 27-year-old Girard has battled injuries since being acquired by Pittsburgh earlier this season, but was starting to come around in recent games, tallying five assists in his final eight contests.

Samuel Girard
Letang (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Kris Letang. The veteran 38-year-old defenseman returns to the postseason for the first time in four years, deployed in a much smaller role with the team. Still, Letang ends the 2025-26 season with a very respectable 34 points (3G / 31A) in 74 games.

Kris Letang
Karlsson (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Erik Karlsson. The 35-year-old Swedish defenseman had a dyanmic season with Pittsburgh, especially the latter half, scoring 31 points (11G / 20A) in his final 23 games. Jake Livanavage will draw into the lineup as Karlsson's replacement.

Erik Karlsson
Chinakhov (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Egor Chinakhov. After several seasons of disappointing performance and inability to be a consistent offensive contributor with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 24-year-old Chinakhov has been dynamic since joining the Penguins, scoring 36 points (18G / 18A) in 43 games. Noel Acciari will draw into the lineup as Chinakhov's replacement.

Egor Chinakhov
Rust (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Bryan Rust. The 33-year-old Rust missed a game last week due to a lower-body injury, so the extra rest on Tuesday will be an added bonus. He concludes the 2025-26 season matching his career high with 65 points (29G / 36A) in 72 games.

Bryan Rust
Rakell (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Rickard Rakell. The 32-year-old Swedish forward concludes the 2025-26 season with 48 points (24G / 24A) in 60 games. Avery Hayes will draw into the lineup as Rakell's replacement.

Rickard Rakell
Malkin (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Evgeni Malkin. The 39-year-old Malkin concludes the 2025-26 season with 61 points (19G / 42A) in 56 games for his best offensive production in half a decade (1.09 PTS/GP). Anthony Mantha will re-enter the lineup as Malkin's replacement.

Evgeni Malkin
Crosby (rest) is not expected to play on Tuesday.

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh is awaiting its first-round playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers and will rest several key players, including Sidney Crosby. At age 38, Crosby has another point-per-game season under his belt, concluding the 2025-26 campaign with 74 points (29G / 45A) in 68 games. The 18-year-old Ben Kindel will draw into the lineup as Crosby's replacement.

Sidney Crosby
Lapierre will draw back into the Capitals lineup on Tuesday.

Lapierre has been a healthy scratch for Washington's previous three contest but will draw back into the Capitals' lineup on Tuesday in Columbus. The 24-year-old has appeared in the majority of Washington's games this season, with four goals, 16 points and 31 PIMs in 73 games played.

Hendrix Lapierre
The Penguins recalled Ville Koivunen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) under emergency conditions.

With the Penguins resting all kinds of players on Saturday, Koivunen is one of three forwards who were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton under emergency conditions. Koivunen has two goals and five assists (seven points) in 36 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Ville Koivunen
The Penguins recalled Rutger McGroarty from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) under emergency conditions.

With the Penguins resting all kinds of players on Saturday, McGroarty is one of three forwards who were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton under emergency conditions. McGroarty has two goals and three assists (five points) in 21 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Rutger McGroarty