Nils Lundkvist (lower body) will return from an injury and Alex Petrovic will make his season debut for the Stars at Matt Dumba and Brendan Smith will be healthy scratches. Dumba started the season on the top defensive pair alongside Miro Heiskanen but has struggled, finding himself on the bottom pair lately.
Pickering was a late scratch on Wednesday, with his absence not being announced prior to warmups. The 21-year-old rookie has one assist in four games this season.
Lizotte missed the first 11 games of the season with a concussion, played the next six, and has been out for five straight with another concussion. The 26-year-old Lizotte has two points (2G / 0A) in seven games this season.
The Canucks will turn to Silovs on Wednesday as they get set to play their second game in as many nights. It's Silovs' first appearance since November 19th, when he surrendered four goals on 33 shots in a 4-3 loss to the Rangers. The 23-year-old netminder owns an ugly .857 SV% and 3.91 GAA across six appearances this season. That being said, he's got a good chance of getting back in the win column on Wednesday, as the Canucks enter action as -120 favourites in Pittsburgh.
Ryan Shea and Jack St. Ivany will draw back into the Penguins lineup on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks, sending Matt Grzelcyk and Ryan Graves to the press box as healthy scratches. The 29-year-old Graves, his second second with the Penguins, is averaging 15:19 time-on-ice, down over three minutes from last season, and has zero points, 28 blocks, and 27 hits in 20 games.
Lizotte missed the first 11 games of the season with a concussion, played the next six, and has been out for five straight with another concussion. The 26-year-old Lizotte has two points (2G / 0A) in seven games this season.
Letang has missed Pittsburgh's last three games due to an illness and will be a game-time decision to return on Friday vs. Winnipeg. The 37-year-old is on pace for his lowest season totals since 2013-14 (22 Pts) with only two goals, six points and 47 SOG in 18 games played before his injury.
Letang has missed Pittsburgh's last three games due to an illness and will be a game-time decision to return on Friday vs. Winnipeg. The 37-year-old is on pace for his lowest season totals since 2013-14 (22 Pts) with only two goals, six points and 47 SOG in 18 games played before his injury.
With Alex Ovechkin (lower body) week-to-week, Lapierre will draw into the Capitals lineup. The 22-year-old Lapierre has played 12 games this season, averaging 10:25 time-on-ice and scoring two points (0G / 2A).
Silovs has not played much this season but was excellent in his previous outing, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will return to the crease for the second time in the last three games. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 3.86 GAA and .850 SV% in five outings (1-2-1). The Canucks enter the action on Tuesday as +105 home underdogs against a New York Rangers club on a two-game winning streak.
Silovs has not played much this season but was excellent in his previous outing, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and will return to the crease for the second time in the last three games. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 3.86 GAA and .850 SV% in five outings (1-2-1). The Canucks enter the action on Tuesday as +105 home underdogs against a New York Rangers club on a two-game winning streak.
Letang has returned to practice but will miss a third consecutive game due to illness. The 37-year-old veteran Letang is averaging 23:12 time-on-ice in his 19th NHL season and has six points (2G / 4A), 20 blocks, and 35 hits in 18 games.
