Pittsburgh Penguins News

Hayes was a surprise addition to Thursday's lineup as he'll fill in for Connor Dewar (lower-body). Hayes will skate with Noel Acciari and Elmer Soderblom on Pittsburgh's fourth line.

Dewar was a surprise scratch on Thursday as the Penguins did not announce his absence prior to warmups. Avery Hayes will dress in his place.

Murashov was recalled earlier this week for precautionary reasons because of Stuart Skinner (upper body) injury, but he will head back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 22-year-old Murashov, touted as Pittsburgh's goalie of the future, has been excellent in the AHL this season, posting a 2.13 GAA and .922 SV% in 35 games (23-8-3).

Skinner was a late scratch in Pittsburgh's previous game due to an upper-body injury, but he will return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. The 27-year-old Skinner struggled in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Skinner has struggled in recent weeks, allowing three or more goals in all but one of his last nine games (3-3-3), posting a 3.58 GAA and .876 SV%. The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as slight -101 road underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that is 1-1-1 in their last three games.

Stuart Skinner (upper body) was a late scratch on Sunday, resulting in the team recalling Taylor Gauthier from the ECHL. Gauthier was eventually sent back, with Murashov being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That said, with Skinner being a full participant at practice on Tuesday, and the Penguins not playing until Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, it seems unlikely that Skinner will miss any more time unless the team decides to be extra cautious with the postseason on the immediate horizon.

Stuart Skinner (upper body) was a late scratch on Sunday, not giving Pittsburgh enough time to recalled Sergei Murashov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. As a result, they recalled Gauthier to serve as Arturs Silovs' backup, but he will head to the AHL and swap places with Murashov for the duration of Skinner's injury.

Pittsburgh does not play until Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, but they appear to be without Stuart Skinner (upper body), which will result in Murashov being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 22-year-old Murashov made his NHL debut earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, where he has an impressive 2.13 GAA and .922 SV% in 35 games (23-8-3).

Jones recently concluded a 20-game suspension for violating the Performance Enhancing Substances Program, but will remain sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 28-year-old Jones only played seven games this season, tallying one assist.

Hayes made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring three goals in 13 games, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The undrafted 23-year-old forward has 35 points (22G / 13A) in 39 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season.

With injured players returning to Pittsburgh's lineup, McGroarty will head back to the AHL. The 22-year-old forward averaged 11:46 time-on-ice and scored five points (2G / 3A) in 21 games with Pittsburgh this season.

With injured players returning to Pittsburgh's lineup, Koivunen will head back to the AHL. The 22-year-old Koivunen averaged 12:29 time-on-ice and scored seven points (2G / 5A) in 36 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Rust was a late scratch ahead of Tuesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, but he will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 33-year-old Rust has 61 points (27G / 34A) in 67 games this season, and is just four points short of the career-high 65 points he had a season ago. Rust has been impressive offensively lately, scoring 20 points (8G / 12A) in 16 games in March.

Jones recently concluded a 20-game suspension for violating the Performance Enhancing Substances Program, but will remain sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The 28-year-old Jones only played seven games this season, tallying one assist.

Skinner was excellent in his previous outing, saving 22 of 23 shots (.957 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, allowing fewer than three goals in a game for the first time in eight outings. The 27-year-old Skinner ended March with a less-than-stellar 3.27 GAA and .885 SV% in nine games (3-3-3). The Penguins enter Thursday's contest as +151 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is 6-1-2 in their last nine games.

With Bryan Rust (upper body) being a late scratch for Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Hayes drew into the lineup as his replacement. The 23-year-old forward has three goals in 13 games with Pittsburgh this season.