Chinakhov did not practice on Wednesday due to a personal matter, and it is unclear what his status is heading into Thursday's game against the New Jersey Devils. With Sidney Crosby (lower body) sidelined for at least four weeks, the Penguins will hope that Chinakhov can elevate his game to help supplement some of the team's missing offensive production. The 25-year-old Chinakhov has 12 points (8G / 4A) in 18 games with the Penguins.
Crosby did not play in the final two games for Team Canada at the Olympics due to a lower-body injury and will be sidelined for at least four weeks. With the end of the regular season just eight weeks away and the Penguins fighting to return to the postseason, this will be a crushing blow for their playoff hopes. The 38-year-old Crosby is leading the Penguins with 59 points (27G / 32A) through 56 games.
Girard is a talented offensive defenseman who was buried on a deep Colorado blueline, but could see a larger role after being traded to Pittsburgh. The 27-year-old defenseman has 235 points (37G / 198A) in 588 career games. He had a career-high 37 points (6G / 31A) in 76 games with Colorado in the 2022-23 season.
Letang was sidelined a week leading up to the Olympic Break due to a lower-body injury, but is expected to play when Pittsburgh returns to action on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 38-year-old Letang is averaging 22:06 time-on-ice, recording 25 points (3G / 22A), 64 blocks, and 67 hits in 50 games this season.
Crosby left Wednesday's quarterfinal game vs. Czechia with a lower-body injury after taking an awkward hit from Radko Gudas in the second period. There has been no update provided on the extent of the Canadian captain's injury. The 38-year-old superstar has 27 goals and 59 points in 56 games this season with Pittsburgh.
Silovs allowed three goals on 29 shots in Latvia's win over Germany. So far he's stopped 31 of the 35 shots (.886 SV%) that he's faced in the tournament. He has a chance to make it two wins in a row, as he faces Denmark in a toss-up game.
Silovs started Latvia's tournament opener on the bench, but replaced Elvis Merzlikins for the third period. He stopped five of the six shots that he faced in relief and will get the start Saturday vs. Germany. Silovs last played internationally for Latvia at the 2023 World Championships, where he was 7-3-0 with a 2.20 GAA and .921 SV%, leading Latvia to a surprise Bronze Medal.
Hayes, an undrafted 23-year-old forward, has 23 points (13G / 10A) in 31 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). He will make his NHL debut in Buffalo on Thursday, slotting in for Noel Acciari (illness).
Hayes has yet to play an NHL game, but has impressed this season at the AHL level. The undrafted 23-year-old forward has 23 points (13G / 10A) in 31 games this season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Rakell participated in Pittsburgh's morning skate on Thursday, but apparently aggravated something and will not play against the Buffalo Sabres. The 32-year-old Rakell has 24 points (10G / 14A) in 35 games this season.
Stuart Skinner has faltered between the pipes in his last few outings, awarding more playing time for Arturs Silovs, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Silovs played well in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort to the Ottawa Senators. Silovs has won six of his last 10 games (6-2-2), posting a serviceable 2.55 GAA and .902 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Sabres team coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Stuart Skinner has faltered between the pipes in his last few outings, awarding more playing time for Arturs Silovs, who will likely return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Silovs played well in his previous outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort to the Ottawa Senators. Silovs has won six of his last 10 games (6-2-2), posting a serviceable 2.55 GAA and .902 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +105 road underdogs against a Sabres team coming off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lizotte has been productive lately in a bottom-six role for the Penguins, but he will exit the lineup on Thursday to tend to the birth of his child. The 28-year-old forward has 17 points (6G / 11A) in 46 games this season, including six points (0G / 6A) in his last eight.
Fernstrom was a third-round draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will gear up for his professional North American debut after being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 19-year-old Swedish forward had four points (3G / 1A) in 36 games with Orebro HK (SweHL) this season.
With Bryan Rust returning from a three-game suspension, McGroarty will be the odd-man out of the lineup. The 21-year-old McGroarty is averaging 11:55 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 19 games this season.
Rust delivered an illegal check to the head of Vancouver's Bryan Rust in the final seconds of a 3-2 win last Sunday and was subsequently issued a three-game suspension, that he will return from on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old Rust was struggling offensively before his suspension, with just three points (2G / 1A) in his last nine games.
Graves has been sidelined for two weeks because of a lower-body injury, but he eligible to return to the lineup after being activated from Injured Reserve on Monday. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:29 time-on-ice an has one goal in 19 games this season.
The Penguins have received adequate tandem netminding from Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs in recent weeks, and they will turn Silovs on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old SIlovs saved 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, improving to 6-1-2 with a 2.68 GAA and .902 SV% in his last nine games. The Penguins enter Monday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a Senators team that has outscored its opponents 16-4 in its last three games (3-0-0).
The Penguins have received adequate tandem netminding from Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs in recent weeks, and they will turn Silovs on Monday against the Ottawa Senators. The 24-year-old SIlovs saved 18 of 20 shots (.900 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, improving to 6-1-2 with a 2.68 GAA and .902 SV% in his last nine games. The Penguins enter Monday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a Senators team that has outscored its opponents 16-4 in its last three games (3-0-0).
