Graves has not played since mid January, but is nearing a return after completing a conditioning stint with Wiles-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:29 time-on-ice an has one goal in 19 games with Pittsburgh this season.
With Sidney Crosby (lower body) returning to Pittsburgh's lineup on Wednesday, Hayes' stint in the NHL seems to have concluded for the time being. The 23-year-old Hayes averaged 10:37 time-on-ice and scored two goals in 11 games with Pittsburgh.
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
Crosby suffered a lower-body injury while representing Team Canada at the Olympics and has been sidelined since the NHL resumed action in late February. In 11 games without Crosby, which also included a five-game stretch without Evgeni Malkin (suspension), the Penguins performed admirably well, staying afloat with a solid 5-3-3 record. The 38-year-old Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 59 points (27G / 32A) through 56 games and is pacing for the 21st point-per-game season of his 21-year career.
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Wednesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner snapped a five-game losing streak (0-1-4) in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. The Penguins, welcoming their leader, Sidney Crosby (lower body), back into the lineup after a multi-week absence, enter Wednesday's contest as +127 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that defeated them 5-4 in a shootout less than two weeks ago.
Lizotte showed no signs of an injury in his most recent game, playing 15:48 time-on-ice, but he did not play on Monday and will remained sidelined for at least four weeks due to an upper-body injury. The 28-year-old Lizotte has 19 points (7G / 12A) and a +6 rating through 55 games this season, but has been less effective lately, with zero points and a -6 plus/minus in his last seven.
Silovs had a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Latvian goalie has now allowed four or more goals in three straight games (1-2-0), ending a nine-game stretch where he had allowed three or fewer goals (5-2-2). The Penguins enter Monday's contest as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a league-leading Colorado Avalanche team that has lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).
Lizotte showed no signs of an injury in Pittsburgh's most recent game, playing 15:48 time-on-ice, but he will head to the sidelines on Monday due to a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Lizotte has 19 points (7G / 12A) and a +6 rating through 55 games this season, but has been less effective lately, with zero points and a -6 plus/minus in his last seven. Justin Brazeau is returning from an upper-body injury and will draw into the lineup as Lizotte's replacement.
Brazeau has not played since March 7th, but will return to the lineup on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 28-year-old Brazeau is seemingly returning well ahead of schedule after being listed as week-to-week on March 10th. Brazeau has been a surprising offensive contributor for Pittsburgh this season, scoring 30 points (16G / 14A) in 48 games.
Silovs had a forgetful performance in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 16 shots (.688 SV%) in a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Latvian goalie has now allowed four or more goals in three straight games (1-2-0), ending a nine-game stretch where he had allowed three or fewer goals (5-2-2). The Penguins enter Monday's contest as sizeable +194 road underdogs against a league-leading Colorado Avalanche team that has lost two of their last three games (1-2-0).
Jack St. Ivany is returning from a conditioning stint with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), resulting in Alexeyev being reassigned. Alexeyev has eight points (1G / 7A) in 80 career NHL games, but has only played at the AHL level this season. The 26-year-old defenseman has seven points (3G / 4A) in 29 games this season with Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
St. Ivany has not played since undergoing surgery on his left hand in late January, but is nearing a return after completing a conditioning stint in the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman was averaging 15:39 time-on-ice and had seven assists in 17 games before his injury. Alexander Alexeyev has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) in a corresponding move.
Already without Sidney Crosby (lower body), the Penguins fared reasonably well while Malkin served a five-game suspension, going 2-1-2, but they will be eager to get him back into the lineup on Monday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 39-year-old Malkin has 47 points (13G / 34A) in 46 games this season.
The Penguins have managed to tread water without Sydney Crosby (lower body) and now Evgeni Malkin (suspension), going 3-2-3 since the Olympic break, partly due to strong netminding from Arturs Silovs. The 24-year-old Latvian goalie only has one loss in his last five outings (4-1-0), posting a solid 2.23 GAA and .917 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +135 road underdogs against the Vegas Golden Knights, a team they defeated 5-0 less than two weeks ago.
Girard has been in and out of the lineup since joining the Penguins, and will miss a second consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. The 27-year-old Girard has seen a slight uptick in icetime since becoming a Penguin, but is still in search of his first point through seven games.
Graves has not played since mid January, but is nearing a return, starting with a conditioning stint with Wiles-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:29 time-on-ice an has one goal in 19 games this season. Pittsburgh has recalled Alexander Alexeyev in a corresponding move.
Alexeyev has eight points (1G / 7A) in 80 career NHL games, but has spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 26-year-old defenseman has seven points (3G / 4A) in 29 games this season with Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL).
The Penguins have alternated goalies pretty evenly in recent weeks and will continue that trend on Tuesday, turning to Skinner against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Skinner was lightly tested in his previous outing and had a disappointing performance, allowing three goals on 15 shots (.800 SV%) in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Skinner has a concerning 3.31 GAA and .847 SV% in his last five games (1-1-3). The Penguins enter Tuesday's contest as +183 road underdogs against a Hurricanes team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).
With Samuel Girard (upper body) out day-to-day, Clifton will re-enter the lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 30-year-old Clifton is averaging 16:35 time-on-ice, recording five points (2G / 3A), 53 blocks, and 129 hits in 32 games this season.
