Pittsburgh Penguins News

Tomasino will re-enter the Predators lineup on Friday as Luke Evangelista is expected to be a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Tomasino has nine points (1G / 8A) in 21 games this season, averaging 12:39 time-on-ice while playing predominantly with Cole Smith and Michael McCarron

Rakell has not played since November 19th due to an upper-body injury but was a full participant at practice on Friday, indicating his return to action is imminent. Before his injury, Rakell was pacing for the worst season of his career, with only four points (0G / 4A) in 17 games. His zero goals on 44 shots rank worst among all forwards with over 30 shots this season.

Nedeljkovic will get his first start in four games as the Penguins head to Montreal to take on the Canadiens Wednesday. The 27-year-old has had a resurgent and impressive season as Tristan Jarry's backup, with his 2-2-1 record, 2.18 GAA and .937 SV%. He will face Montreal on the road, who have lost two of their last three games and are struggling offensively ranking 27th in both shots per game (28.7) and goals per game (2.61).

Aho has missed the Islanders' previous eight games due to an upper-body injury but was a full participant in line rushes Wednesday and is expected to return vs. Ahaheim. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defensemen has yet to score in 19 games played this year but has four assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph will re-enter the lineup after a brief conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), as Shea will watch the game from the press box as a healthy scratch. Shea has zero points in 22 games this season, averaging 12:28 time-on-ice.

Johnstone is an undrafted 27-year-old forward who has spent parts of the last three seasons in the AHL, between the Toronto Marlies and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying 27 points (11G / 16A) in 94 games. He was recalled from the AHL last week and has played one game, averaging 7:19 time-on-ice and recording two hits.

Despite a losing 8-10-2 record, Jarry is arguably stringing together the best season of his career, showcasing a 2.48 GAA and .918 SV%, along with leading the league with three shutouts. The Penguins have hovered around .500 all season (11-12-3), partly due to their inability to provide Jarry with ample goal support, highlighted by their 30th-ranked powerplay (9.5%). That said, Jarry and the low-scoring Penguins are still -192 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes team that played last night and is amid a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).

Joseph has not played since November 4th, recovering from a lower-body injury, and has only played five total games this season. During a conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Joseph scored one point (0G / 1A) in two games. He will draw into the Penguins lineup Tuesday for Ryan Shea.

Despite a losing 8-10-2 record, Jarry is arguably stringing together the best season of his career, showcasing a 2.48 GAA and .918 SV%, along with leading the league with three shutouts. The Penguins have hovered around .500 all season (11-12-3), partly due to their inability to provide Jarry with ample goal support, highlighted by their 30th-ranked powerplay (9.5%). That said, Jarry and the low-scoring Penguins are still -192 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes team that played last night and is amid a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).

Rust missed three games late last month and will once again be sidelined on a week-to-week basis with an upper-body injury. This is a devasting blow for a Penguins team that has struggled offensively lately, scoring only three total goals in their last three games (0-2-1). Before his injury, Rust was having a terrific season, scoring 20 points (10G / 10A) in 22 games.

Jarry will man the Penguins' crease for the sixth time in seven games Friday after dropping his previous game after allowing three goals on 27 shots (.889 SV%). The 28-year-old leads the NHL in shutouts (3) and has had a strong start to his season despite the play of those around him in Pittsburgh, with his 8-9-2 record, 2.50 GAA and .917 SV%. He will head to Florida to take on the Panthers Friday, who have won three of their last five games and are second in the NHL in shots per game (34.0).

Acciari has not played since November 30th and has been retroactively placed on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Acciari had three points (2G / 1A), 44 hits, and 28 blocks in 22 games this season, playing predominantly alongside Jeff Carter and Matt Nieto.

Koppanen has been reassigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins along with Alex Nylander as Pittsburgh has recalled Marc Johnstone, Jonathan Gruden, and Valtteri Puustinen. Koppanen played three games with Pittsburgh, firing two shots on goal, averaging 7:25 time-on-ice, and scoring zero points.

Puustinen was the seventh-round pick of the Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has scored 111 points (49G / 62A) in 163 career games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL. His call-up coincides with Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Johnstone is an undrafted 27-year-old forward who has spent parts of the last three seasons in the AHL, between the Toronto Marlies and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, tallying 27 points (11G / 16A) in 94 games. His call-up coincides with Joona Koppanen and Alex Nylander being reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Rust left the Penguins' previous game vs. Tampa in the third period after just 12:03 TOI due to a lower-body injury and will miss Friday vs. Florida after not practicing Thursday. If he is forced to miss time it will be a massive loss for the Penguins as the 31-year-old is having the best statistical season of his 10 year career with 10 goals, 10 assists, 71 SOG, four PIMs and a +13 plus/minus in 22 games prior to this latest injury.