Malkin (illness) will miss his second straight game.
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Pittsburgh Penguins News
The Red Wings have activated Anthony Mantha (lower-body) from IR.
Mantha will return to the Red Wings lineup on Saturday, so they've sent Dylan McIlrath back to Grand Rapids to make room for Mantha to be activated. Mantha, who has 12 goals and 11 assists in 25 games this season, will skate with Valtteri Filppula and Filip Zadina in Montreal.
Mantha (lower-body) has been medically cleared to play Saturday.
Mantha has missed the last eight games with lower-body injury but could play Saturday in Montreal. Mantha skated again on Friday and told reporters that he's been medically cleared but needs clearance from GM Steve Yzerman. The Red Wings went 1-7-0 and scored only 1.63 goals per game without Mantha.
Malkin (illness) will not play on Thursday.
The Penguins did not hold a morning skate but head coach Mike Sullivan announced that Malkin will miss tonight's game due to an illness. The Penguins will be in tough without Malkin or Sidney Crosby. Joseph Blandisi was recalled this morning and is expected to play in Malkin's place.
Clifton will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Clifton replaced John Moore in the lineup last night but they will trade places again on Thursday. The Bruins didn't want Moore to play in back-to-back games after making his season debut just one week ago.
Bemstrom will miss 6-to-8 weeks with a dislocated rib and broken cartilage.
Bemstrom was hurt on a cross-check from Brian Boyle in Saturday's game in Florida and will be out until at least mid-to-late January. Alex Wennberg replaced Bemstrom on Monday and will likely remain in the Blue Jackets lineup moving forward.
The Oilers have recalled Caleb Jones from Bakersfield (AHL).
Jones was sent down last Tuesday but quickly swaps spots with Joel Persson again. Jones has been spectacular in the AHL, posting 11 points (3G / 8A) in 14 games but has not registered a point in nine games with the Oilers.
Bemstrom (upper-body) will not play on Monday.
Bemstrom was hurt midway through Saturday's game in Florida and did not travel to Washington for Monday's game. Bemstrom remained in Columbus to undergo further evaluation, so look for Alexander Wennberg to replace him in the lineup vs. the Capitals.
Rust (lower-body) will be back in the Penguins lineup on Friday.
Rust has missed the last three games but will return to the lineup Friday vs. the Coyotes. Rust will be back on the top-line with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel but is not expected to see any power-play time. Rust enters play with nine goals and eight assists (17 points) in 14 games this season.
Rust (lower-body) will be a game-time decision on Friday.
Rust has missed the last three games but it looks like he'll play Friday vs. the Coyotes. Rust will be back on the top-line with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guentzel and comes in with 17 points (9G / 8A) in 14 games this season.
Clifton will be a healthy scratch on Thursday.
Clifton was in the lineup for the last three games but will take a seat with John Moore (shoulder) set to make his season debut.
Bemstrom will be back in the Blue Jackets lineup on Thursday.
Bemstrom was a healthy scratch on Tuesday but will draw back in for Eric Robinson on Thursday. Bemstrom was dominant in Sweden last year but has just nine points (3G / 6A) in 26 games in the NHL this season.
Rust (lower-body) will not play on Wednesday.
Rust skated this morning but remains day-to-day and will not play against the Blues. With Patric Hornqvist and Rust both missing from their top-6, the recently signed Stefan Noesen is expected to make his Penguins debut.
The Oilers have reassigned Caleb Jones to Bakersfield (AHL).
Bemstrom will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday.
Bemstrom has appeared in all 26 games this season but will be scratched in favour of Eric Robinson on Monday. Bemstrom had a five-game point streak in early-November but has recorded just one assist in his last six games.
Skinner has been called up from Bakersfield (AHL) to backup Mikko Koskinen on Sunday.
Skinner has gone 7-5-2 with a 3.23 GAA and .890 SV% in 15 AHL games this season. He is only coming up because Mike Smith is dealing with a leg injury, so he'll sit on the bench while Mikko Koskinen gets the nod.
Rust will not play Friday due to an undisclosed injury.
Clifton will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday.
Mantha is expected to miss two weeks with a lower-body injury.
Mantha was hurt early in Saturday's game in New Jersey on Saturday and is expected to be reevaluated in a "couple weeks." With Mantha out, the Red Wings called up their top prospect, Filip Zadina, who could get an extended look in the top-6.
Letang (lower-body) has been activated from IR and will play on Monday.
Letang has missed the last eight games with a lower-body injury that he suffered on November 4th, but was back at practice on Sunday and was activated from IR this afternoon. Letang will likely replace Zach Trotman on the blueline and skate with Brian Dumoulin and take over as the quarterback on PP1.
