Pittsburgh Penguins News

Letang was a surprise scratch for Friday night's game with the team not announcing his absence prior to the official roster report being finalized. We should get an update on his status ahead of Pittsburgh's game in Washington on Saturday.

Owen Pickering will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Graves to re-enter the lineup for the first time since January 3rd. The 29-year-old Graves is averaging 15:25 time-on-ice and has zero points, 40 blocks, and 36 hits in 31 games this season.

Skinner will get the start for the tail-end of Edmonton's back-to-back after Calvin Pickard got the nod on Wednesday. Skinner was fantastic in his last start, stopping all 30 shots he faced in a 1-0 shutout victory over the Kings on Monday. The 26-year-old netminder owns a 17-9-3 record and a .902 SV% on the season. The Oilers enter action on Thursday at +100 on the money line.

Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season. Sam Malinski will exit the lineup to accommodate Girard's return.

With Tristan Jarry placed on waivers, Pittsburgh has recalled Blomqvist from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). The 23-year-old Blomqvist has a 2.93 GAA and .912 SV% in 12 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season (6-4-2). He was serviceable in a small sample at the NHL level earlier this season, posting a 3.60 GAA and .904 SV% in eight games (3-5-0).

Girard has not played the previous three games due to an undisclosed injury but has returned to practice. The 26-year-old Girard is averaging 21:10 time-on-ice and has 18 points (2G / 16A) in 42 games this season.

Malkin has missed the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.

Malkin has missed the previous three games due to an upper-body injury but could draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. Malkin is averaging 18:35 time-on-ice, recording 71 shots and 32 points (8G / 24A) in 41 games this season.

Coming off a 4-3 win with Calvin Pickard in net against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers will return to Skinner between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner struggled in his most recent out, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.77 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 games this season (16-9-3). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -197 home favorites against a Kings team that had a five-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Coming off a 4-3 win with Calvin Pickard in net against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers will return to Skinner between the pipes on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings. Skinner struggled in his most recent out, allowing five goals on 26 shots (.808 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 26-year-old netminder has a 2.77 GAA and .898 SV% in 28 games this season (16-9-3). The Oilers enter Monday's contest as -197 home favorites against a Kings team that had a five-game winning streak snapped in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Silovs being reassigned to Abbotsford (AHL) likely indicated that Thatcher Demko (back) is ready to return to Vancouver's lineup. Silovs began the season in Vancouver but has predominantly been in the AHL since Demko debuted. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 2.44 GAA and .900 SV% in five games with Abbottsford (AHL).