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Pittsburgh Penguins News

Philip Tomasino will rejoin the Predators' lineup Friday vs. Carolina.

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

Philip Tomasino
Rickard Rakell (upper body) was in a regular jersey at Pittsburgh's practice Friday.

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.

Rickard Rakell
Skinner will start against the Lightning on Thursday.

Skinner will start for the second straight game as he searches for his eighth consecutive victory. Skinner has been tremendous lately allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games (7-0-0), boasting a stellar .935 SV%. The Oilers will look for their ninth straight win as sizeable -173 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost two of their last three (1-2-0), being outscored 12-6, and will be without Victor Hedman for a second straight game.

Stuart Skinner
Stuart Skinner is expected to start Thursday vs. Tampa Bay.

Skinner will likely start for the second straight game as he searches for his eighth consecutive victory. Skinner has been tremendous lately allowing fewer than three goals in five of his last seven games (7-0-0), boasting a stellar .935 SV%. The Oilers will look for their ninth straight win as sizeable -173 home favourites against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that has lost two of their last three (1-2-0), being outscored 12-6, and will be without Victor Hedman for a second straight game.

Stuart Skinner
Sebastian Aho (upper body) was a full participant in the Islanders' morning skate and is expected to return Wednesday.

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.

Sebastian Aho
Stuart Skinner will start vs. Chicago.

After starting seven straight games (6-1-0), Skinner will be rested against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday after serving as the backup to Calvin Pickard in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Skinner is riding a six-game winning streak and has been tremendous for the Oilers, allowing only 11 total goals over that stretch, posting a .932 SV%. The Oilers have turned their season around as they will look for their eighth straight win as overwhelming -468 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has not scored more than three goals in their last seven games (2-4-1).

Stuart Skinner
Ryan Shea is expected to be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Arizona.

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.

Ryan Shea
Stuart Skinner was in the starter's crease at Edmonton's morning skate.

After starting seven straight games (6-1-0), Skinner will be rested against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday after serving as the backup to Calvin Pickard in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. Skinner is riding a six-game winning streak and has been tremendous for the Oilers, allowing only 11 total goals over that stretch, posting a .932 SV%. The Oilers have turned their season around as they will look for their eighth straight win as overwhelming -468 home favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has not scored more than three goals in their last seven games (2-4-1).

Stuart Skinner
Bryan Rust (upper body) is out week-to-week.

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.

Bryan Rust
Stuart Skinner will start Friday vs. Minnesota.

Skinner will start for the seventh straight game and look for his sixth straight victory on Friday. Skinner has elevated his game since the Oilers changed coaches last month, highlighted by a tremendous .943 SV% during his season-best five-game winning streak, allowing only eight total goals over that stretch. The Oilers are considerable -187 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has played well lately but was shut out 2-0 last night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Stuart Skinner
Stuart Skinner was in the starter's crease Friday at Edmonton's morning skate.

Skinner will likely start for the seventh straight game and look for his sixth straight victory on Friday. Skinner has elevated his game since the Oilers changed coaches last month, highlighted by a tremendous .943 SV% during his season-best five-game winning streak, allowing only eight total goals over that stretch. The Oilers are considerable -187 home favourites against a Minnesota Wild team that has played well lately but was shut out 2-0 last night against the Vancouver Canucks.

Stuart Skinner
Noel Acciari (lower body) has been placed on the Injured Reserve Friday.

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.

Noel Acciari
Joona Koppanen has been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

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.

Joona Koppanen
Valtteri Puustinen has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).

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.

Valtteri Puustinen