Pittsburgh Penguins News

Girard has not played in nearly two weeks due to an undisclosed ailment, but he has been practicing the past few days and could return to the lineup on Thursady against the Utah Mammoth. The 28-year-old defenseman is off to an impressive offensive start this season, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in nine games.

Chinakhov has only played once in the past two weeks due to a lingering lower-body injury, but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 25-year-old Russian forward is averaging 15:51 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in eight games this season.

Kindel missed the last two games after losing consciousness on the team plane following their game in Utah. Kindel returned to practice on Tuesday and is set to rejoin the lineup vs. the Mammoth on Friday. Kindel, who has two goals and two assists in nine games, will be on a line with Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov.

In eight games this season, Silovs has already posted two shutouts, the first of his career, but he's been wildly inconsistent. The 25-year-old Latvian goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in four games but five in the other four. Silovs has a 2.87 GAA and .890 SV% in eight games (5-3-0). The Penguins enter Thursday's action as +116 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that defeated them 5-4 less than two weeks ago.

In eight games this season, Silovs has already posted two shutouts, the first of his career, but he's been wildly inconsistent. The 25-year-old Latvian goalie has allowed two or fewer goals in four games but five in the other four. Silovs has a 2.87 GAA and .890 SV% in eight games (5-3-0). The Penguins enter Thursday's action as +116 home underdogs against a Utah Mammoth team that defeated them 5-4 less than two weeks ago.

Soderblom played a season high 13:52 time-on-ice in Pittsburgh previous game, but he is battling an upper-body injury and will miss at least a week before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 25-year-old Swedish forward has one assist in six games this season.

Brazeau suffered a lower-body injury in training camp that has sidelined him for the first 12 games of the season. He will likely miss at least one more while on a conditioning loan with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), but should be ready for his season debut with Pittsburgh shortly. The 28-year-old forward had 34 points (17G / 17A) in 64 games last season.

Pietila was a fourth-round pick, 111th overall, of the Penguins in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and is coming off a 2025-26 season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL), where he had 16 points (2G / 14A) in 66 games.

With Justin Brazeau (lower body) activated from IR, Pittsburgh has assigned Hayes back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 24-year-old Hayes has only appeared in one games for Pittsburgh this season, playing 12:43 time-on-ice and recording five shots on goal.

The Pittsburgh Penguins released a statement last Tuesday saying they had to divert a team flight due to a medical emergency involving Ben Kindel. He has since been placed on Injured Reserve due to a vasovagal issue. That said, he was back at practice one week later, seemingly nearing a return to action.

Soderblom played a season high 13:52 time-on-ice in Pittsburgh previous game, but he is battling an upper-body injury and will not practice on Tuesday. It is unclear if Soderblom will be available when Pittsburgh returns to action on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth. The 25-year-old Swedish forward has one assist in six games this season.

The Penguins return to action on Saturday against the Nashville Predators, and it is unclear whether Malkin will be available after missing Friday's practice due to illness. The 40-year-old Malkin is averaging a career-low 17:02 time on ice, but is still producing at an effective rate, with nine points (6G / 3A) in 11 games.