Pittsburgh Penguins News

Silovs was performing admirably heading into the Olympic break, and the Penguins will turn to him to tend the twine in their first game back. The 24-year-old Silovs has a 2.10 GAA and .922 SV% in his last seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins will be without Sidney Crosby (lower body) for the next several weeks and will need a strong team effort down the stretch, starting with goaltending, if they plan to return to the postseason. Pittsburgh enters Thursday's contest as a -153 home favourite against a New Jersey Devils team that played last night and lost 2-1 to the Buffalo Sabres.

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).

Acciari is battling an illness and is unavailable for Pittsburgh's final game before the Olympic break. The 34-year-old Acciari has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 42 games this season.

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.

Acciari is battling an illness and is uncertain for Pittsburgh's final game before the Olympic break. The 34-year-old Acciari has 15 points (6G / 9A) in 42 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.

Hayes has not played in nearly a month, but he will re-enter the lineup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 33-year-old Hayes is averaging 12:42 time-on-ice and has five points (3G / 2A) in 23 games this season.

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.

Jones has seen limited NHL action this season, scoring one assist in just seven games with the Penguins. The 28-year-old will not be eligible to return until the beginning of April after being suspended for 20 games.

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.