Crosby has been absent since getting hurt in Monday's scrimmage game. He skated on his own prior to their scrimmage on Thursday but was deemed "unfit to play." On Friday he joined his teammates for practice, which is a good sign that he'll be available for Game 1 vs. the Montreal Canadiens.
Crosby was left Saturday's scrimmage early and did not take part in Monday's intrasquad game. It's unclear how serious his injury is at this time but the Penguins' first playoff game isn't for 11 more days, so he has ample time to get back to 100 percent.
Kral was a fifth-round pick in 2018 and finished his third season in the WHL with 12 goals and 37 assists (49 points) in 53 games with the Spokane Chiefs. The 20-year-old defenseman was a two-time World Juniors participant, scoring two goals in 12 combined games while representing the Czech Republic in 2018 and 2019.
Nashville selected Novak all the way back in 2015 as a third-round pick. After finished his four years at the University of Minnesota, Novak joined the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee where he eared an NHL contract by finishing second on the team in assists (31) and third in points (42) in 60 games.
Poolman was an undrafted free agent who had 17 points (4G / 13A) in 31 games in his senior year at the University of North Dakota. He is the brother of Winnipeg Jets' defenseman Tucker Poolman, who also went to the University of North Dakota.
With Petr Mrazek set to return from a concussion on Tuesday, Nedeljkovic will be the goalie to go to Charlotte and get some playing time. The 24-year-old netminder went 1-2-1 with a 3.05 GAA and .887 SV% during his call-up and returns to the AHL where he is 15-10-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .905 SV%.
Nedeljkovic stopped 18 of 19 shots after replacing Anton Forsberg in the Hurricanes loss in Montreal last Saturday. Nedeljkovic struggled in his first start of the season, allowing four goals on 16 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Stars. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that is on a seven-game home winning streak while scoring 4.57 goals per game.
Nedeljkovic stopped 18 of 19 shots after replacing Anton Forsberg in the Hurricanes loss in Montreal last Saturday. Nedeljkovic struggled in his first start of the season, allowing four goals on 16 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Stars. Tonight he faces a Flyers team that is on a seven-game home winning streak while scoring 4.57 goals per game.
Ouellet has missed the last three games with a concussion but is expected to replace Karl Alzner vs. the Hurricanes. Ouellet has just one assist in seven NHL games this season.
Nieto was on the ice for Tuesday's practice in a non-contact sweater and is expected to miss tonight's game vs. the Sabres. With Nieto out, Mark Barberio is expected to skate at forward on Wednesday.
With both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer out with injuries, Nedeljkovic will make his season debut. The 24-year-old netminder was 15-10-2 with a 2.51 GAA and .905 SV% in 28 AHL games. Nedeljkovic has been outstanding in his first two NHL games, stopping 41 of the 43 shots (.953 SV%) that he's faced. His season debut will come against a Stars team that has gone 6-1-1 while scoring 2.88 goals per game in their last eight.
Heinen's production continues to trend downward after his 47-point campaign in 2017-18. He has just seven goals and 15 assists through 58 games this season.The 24-year-old carries a $2.8M cap hit through the 2020-21 season.
