Pittsburgh Penguins News

Heinen has been at camp with Boston on a PTO since the preseason and will make his season debut on Monday after he finally signed a one-year, $775,000 contract earlier today. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 14 assists, 96 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -5 plus/minus in 65 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and returns to Boston where he spent the first four years of his career. Patrick Brown will sit out in place of Heinen.

Heinen has been at camp with Boston on a PTO since the preseason and has finally signed a one-year, $775,000 contract Monday. The 28-year-old left-winger had eight goals, 14 assists, 96 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -5 plus/minus in 65 games with Pittsburgh in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and returns to Boston where he spent the first four years of his career.

The Oilers will give Stuart Skinner the nod in Sunday's Heritage Classic against the Flames. Both Skinner and fellow Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell have struggled to find their form early on in the 2023-24 season, but Skinner did enjoy his finest start of the season in Edmonton's most recent game against the Rangers on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a losing effort as the Oilers were uncharacteristically shut out on home ice. Outdoor games always bring some extra uncertainty with them, but the Oilers are -155 favourites to pick up the win on Sunday, and the line could move further in their favour if Connor McDavid is able to return to the lineup.

The Oilers are expected to give Stuart Skinner the nod in Sunday's Heritage Classic against the Flames. Both Skinner and fellow Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell have struggled to find their form early on in the 2023-24 season, but Skinner did enjoy his finest start of the season in Edmonton's most recent game against the Rangers on Thursday. The 24-year-old netminder stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a losing effort as the Oilers were uncharacteristically shut out on home ice. Outdoor games always bring some extra uncertainty with them, but the Oilers are -155 favourites to pick up the win on Sunday, and the line could move further in their favour if Connor McDavid is able to return to the lineup.

Clifton delivered an illegal check to the head of Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils in the Sabres' 5-4 loss on Friday night. He received a match penalty on the play and has subsequently been suspended for two games. Hischier was forced to leave the game for the Devils and has already been ruled out for their next contest on Sunday. In eight games this season, Clifton has one point (0G / 1A) and has racked up 28 penalty minutes along with a -6 plus/minus rating.

Tomasino will slot back into the Predators lineup on Saturday for the first time since October 17th. The Predators' 24th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has one point (0G / 1A) through four games after breaking out last season with 18 points (5G / 13A) in 31 games.

Skinner will be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday after serving as the backup for three of their last four contests. The Oilers, who will once again be without Connor McDavid (upper-body), will be desperate to get their season on track as they are off to a disappointing 1-4-1 start. Last year's best offensive team (3.96 GF/GP) is averaging only 2.83 goals per game and is being outscored by an alarm 17-27 total. The Oilers will be challenged by the New York Rangers (-126 road favourites) and will hope that sophomore Stuart Skinner can recapture some of the magic he had last season as a Calder Trophy finalist.

It appears Skinner will be the starting goalie for the Oilers on Thursday after serving as the backup for three of their last four contests. The Oilers, who will once again be without Connor McDavid (upper-body), will be desperate to get their season on track as they are off to a disappointing 1-4-1 start. Last year's best offensive team (3.96 GF/GP) is averaging only 2.83 goals per game and is being outscored by an alarm 17-27 total. The Oilers will be challenged by the New York Rangers (-126 road favourites) and will hope that sophomore Stuart Skinner can recapture some of the magic he had last season as a Calder Trophy finalist.

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots (.750 SV%) in his previous start as he lost to Vancouver but will look for redemption Saturday as he takes on Winnipeg. The 24-year-old has had a horrific two appearances for the Oilers thus far in 2023-24, with his 0-2-0 record, 5.33 GAA and .750 SV%. He will face the Winnipeg Jets, who have lost their last two games but are fourth in the NHL in shots per game (34.5).

Acciari will be available to suit up on Saturday after not participating in practice for the Penguins on Thursday because of an upper-body injury. If Acciari draws into the lineup, he will likely center the fourth line with Matthew Nieto and Jeff Carter. He has zero points, five blocks, eight hits, and a -1 plus/minus rating through four games.

Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday after being evaluated for a lower-body injury but did participate Friday and considers himself a game-time decision Saturday vs. St. Louis. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24.

Acciari missed the Penguins' morning skate Thursday as he was being evaluated for an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day until Pittsburgh releases more information. The 31-year-old bruising winger was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract ($2,000,000 AAV) during the offseason and has yet to pick up a point through four games in 2023-24.

Letting did not participate in the Penguins' practice Thursday and is being evaluated for a lower-body injury. The 36-year-old defensemen is in his 18th season with the Penguins and has three assists, six SOG, two PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in four games played so far in 2023-24. Pittsburgh should be releasing more information on the injuries in the upcoming day or two.

Tomasino has an assist, two SOG, two PIMs and a -1 plus/minus through four games to start 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. the New York Rangers. Michael McCarron will replace Tomasino on the Predators' fourth line alongside Yakov Trenin and Colton Sissons.

Plasek had six goals, nine assists, and 10 PIMs across 31 games played on loan with HC Olomouc (Czachia) in 2022-23 and has been dealt to Pittsburgh alongside Jack Rathbone for Ty Glover and Mark Friedman Tuesday. The 23-year-old left-winger was Vancouvers' 2019 sixth-round pick (175th overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Alexeyev did not appear in Washington's only game of the season but is expected to make his 2023-24 debut Monday as the Capitals' take on the Flames at home. The 23-year-old defenseman had five assists, 28 SOG, four PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus through 32 games as a rookie in 2022-23. He should be replacing Lucas Johansen in the Capitals' lineup Monday.