Letang is battling an illness and will be sidelined for the first time this season. 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.
Lizotte missed the first 11 games of the season with a concussion and was struck in the face by a shot in the first period of Wednesday's game, forcing him to leave the game. Matt Nieto will draw into the lineup as Lizotte's replacement.
Pickering was the first-round pick, 21st overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and has one point (1G / 0A) in 12 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) this season.
Ponomarev was the 53rd overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 22-year-old had a two-game stint with the Hurricanes in the 2022-23 season, scoring two points (1G / 1A), but has predominantly been an AHL player so far in his career.
With Tristan Jarry returning from a conditioning loan in the AHL, Blomqvist has been re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The 22-year-old Blomqvist showed flashes of strong play for a Pittsburgh team struggling defensively, posting a 3.60 GAA an .904 SV% in eight games (3-5-0).
Lizotte missed the first 11 games of the season with a concussion and was struck in the face by a shot in the first period of Wednesday's game. We should receive an update on his status ahead of Pittsburgh's game in Columbus on Friday.
The Penguins will shake up their defense on Wednesday after a debilitating 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their previous contest, welcoming Shea back into the lineup in favor of Jack St. Ivany. The 27-year-old Shea is averaging 15:06 time-on-ice and has zero points in three games this season.
Despite recording an assist and an even plus/minus rating in a disastrous 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in their last outing, the Penguins will scratch St. Ivany on Wednesday in favor on Ryan Shea. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) through 14 games this season.
The Oilers will roll with Skinner in their crease for a third straight game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders. Skinner has had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by a pedestrian 3.25 GAA and .883 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1). The 26-year-old netminder has allowed three or more goals in eight of his 10 starts this season. That said, the Oilers enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable -217 home favorites against an Islanders club that ranks in the bottom five of the league offensively, averaging 2.6 goals per game.
After suffering a shoulder injury that prevented him from participating in training camp, Dewar has returned from a one-game conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), where he scored two points (1G / 1A), and is ready to make his season debut with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Dewar had five points (1G / 4A) in 17 games with the Maple Leafs last season and is expected to skate on a line with Nicholas Robertson and Pontus Holmberg.
Mantha and the Flames received terrible news on Monday as he will be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his ACL. Mantha suffered the injury late in the first period on November 5th against the Montreal Canadiens and was unable to return. The 30-year-old Mantha scored seven points (4G / 3A) in 13 games in his first season with the Flames.
After starting two of the first three games for Vancouver, Silovs has been limited to only one start in the past 10 games, as Kevin Lankinen has taken the reins of the crease. The 23-year-old Silovs remains winless in four appearances this season (0-2-1), posting an ugly 4.77 GAA and .808 SV%.
The Penguins will turn to Blomqvist between the pipes for a second consecutive game after an impressive victory in his previous outing. Blomqvist was stellar on Friday, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals. The 22-year-old Blomqvist has been the most consistent netminder for the Penguins this season, posting a 3.25 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-4-0). The Penguins enter the action on Monday as +141 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club that has lost three of their last four (1-3-0).
The Penguins will likely turn to Blomqvist between the pipes for a second consecutive game after an impressive victory in his previous outing. Blomqvist was stellar on Friday, saving 32 of 34 shots (.941 SV%) in a 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals. The 22-year-old Blomqvist has been the most consistent netminder for the Penguins this season, posting a 3.25 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-4-0). The Penguins enter the action on Monday as +141 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club that has lost three of their last four (1-3-0).
Hayes is battling an upper-body injury, has missed the previous two games, and will be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 32-year-old Hayes has four points (3G / 1A) in 14 games and has been held off the scoresheet in six straight. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh recalled Samuel Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL).
Hayes is battling an upper-body injury, has missed the previous two games, and will be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis. The 32-year-old Hayes has four points (3G / 1A) in 14 games and has been held off the scoresheet in six straight.
