Malkin has been out since January 25th due to an upper-body injury but was a full participant in Pittsburgh's practice on Tuesday despite remaining on their IR. The 38-year-old will make a welcome addition back to the Penguin's lineup adding his nine goals and 34 points in 47 games played this season.
Rust remains on IR due to an undisclosed injury but was a full participant in Pittsburgh's practice on Tuesday. The 32-year-old winger last appeared on February 7th and had 13 points in his previous 13 games. Across 48 games played this season, Rust is third on the Penguins in scoring with 20 goals and 42 points.
Imama suffered the injury in the first period of Friday's game and was unable to return. We should receive an update on his status of ahead of Pittsburgh's game in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Bemstrom has 228 games of NHL experience, including scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season, but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward has an impressive 41 points (19G / 22A) in 37 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). He replaces the injured Sidney Crosby (upper-body) in the Penguins lineup.
Crosby exited Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils for eight minutes due to an undisclosed injury but returned to the contest, ending the game with one assist in 22:14 time-on-ice. The 37-year-old Crosby downplayed the severity of the injury following the game but has not fully participated in practice since and will not play on Friday against the New York Rangers. Penguins' head coach Mike Sullivan said they are taking his injury "day by day," obviously posing a concern for his availability in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
The Penguins will turn to Nedeljkovic between the pipes for a fifth consecutive game on Friday when they visit the New York Rangers. The 29-year-old Nedeljkovic has been excellent lately, allowing two or fewer goals in six of his last seven outings (4-2-1), posting a stellar .936 SV%. The Penguins, already without Evgeni Malkin (lower body), will be without Sidney Crosby (upper body) and enter the action on Friday as +167 road underdogs against a Rangers squad that defeated them 4-2 on December 6th.
Bemstrom has 228 games of NHL experience, including scoring five points (2G / 3A) in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season, but has spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL. The 25-year-old forward has an impressive 41 points (19G / 22A) in 37 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Crosby exited Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils for an eight-minute stretch due to an undisclosed injury but returned to the contest. The 37-year-old Crosby downplayed any injury concerns following the game but was not able to participate in a full practice on Thursday. Crosby has seven points (4G / 3A) during a five-game point streak.
Crosby exited Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils for an eight-minute stretch due to an undisclosed injury but returned to the contest. The 37-year-old Crosby downplayed any injury concerns following the game but has stated after practice on Wednesday that he is being evaluated. Crosby has seven points (4G / 3A) during a five-game point streak.
The Penguins have won two straight, including a 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators in their most recent outing when Nedeljkovic saved all 25 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. The 29-year-old netminder has a 3.02 GAA and .899 SV% in 25 games this season (11-9-4). The Penguins enter Tuesday's contest as +130 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils squad that defeated them 3-0 on December 21st.
Heinen was acquired from Vancouver on Friday night and is expected to arrive in Pittsburgh in time for Saturday's game, but it's unclear if he will make his Penguins season debut or not. Heinen has 18 points (6G / 12A) in 51 games this season.
