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.

Blake Lizotte (concussion) will not play on Friday, allowing Nieto to draw into the lineup for his season debut. Nieto started the 2024-25 season on a conditioning loan after returning from a knee injury. He score one point (1G / 0A) in two games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, his first stop in the AHL since the 2013-14 season.

With Kris Letang battling an illness, St. Ivany will return to the lineup on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old St. Ivany is averaging 16:02 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in 14 games this season.

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.

For the first time since October 16th, the fifth game of the season, the Penguins will turn to Jarry between the pipes on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After a forgettable start to the season, posting an abysmal 5.47 GAA and .836 SV% in three outings (1-1-0), Jarry was sent down to the Wilke-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) for a conditioning stint. In five AHL games (4-1-0), Jarry posted a solid 2.16 GAA and .926 SV%. The Penguins enter the action on Friday as -127 road favorites against a Blue Jackets club riding a six-game losing skid.

For the first time since October 16th, the fifth game of the season, the Penguins will likely turn to Jarry between the pipes on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. After a forgettable start to the season, posting an abysmal 5.47 GAA and .836 SV% in three outings (1-1-0), Jarry was sent down to the Wilke-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) for a conditioning stint. In five AHL games (4-1-0), Jarry posted a solid 2.16 GAA and .926 SV%. The Penguins enter the action on Friday as -127 road favorites against a Blue Jackets club riding a six-game losing skid.

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.

Joseph suffered the injury early in the second period and was unable to return. We should receive an update on his status ahead of the Blues' game in Boston on Saturday.

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).

Nieto started the 2024-25 season on a conditioning loan after returning from a knee injury. He score one point (1G / 0A) in two games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, his first stop in the AHL since the 2013-14 season.

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 are coming off a forgetful outing on Monday when they allowed six goals in the first period in an eventual 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars. Nedeljkovic entered the contest in relief and allowed four goals on 32 shots (.875 SV%), lowering his season totals to a 3.25 GAA and .882 SV% in eight appearances (2-3-2). The Penguins enter Wednesday's contest as -137 home favorites against a Detroit Red Wings club riding a two-game losing skid.