Hallander left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed injury and will not play on Thursday. Hallander has spent parts of the 2025-26 season playing alongside Sidney Crosby, and has tallied four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games. With Hallander unable to suit up, expect Ben Kindel to take his spot on Pittsburgh's top line.

With Tristan Jarry (lower-body) out week-to-week, Silovs will be the go-to option between the pipes for the Penguins, beginning with Thursday's contest against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Silovs struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but has otherwise been solid, boasting a 2.66 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as slight -103 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues last night.

Connor Clifton will draw back into Pittsburgh's lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals, sending Brunicke to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 19-year-old Brunicke is averaging 15:43 time-on-ice and has one point (1G / 0A) through nine games in his first NHL season.

Clifton has been limited to only three games this season, last playing on October 25th, and will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. The 30-year-old defenseman is averaging 17:34 time-on-ice, recording zero points, nine blocks, and 16 hits.

Graves started the season in the AHL, scoring seven points (1G / 6A) in 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but will suit up for his season debut with Pittsburgh on Thursday. The 30-year-old defenseman has 118 points (32G / 86A) in 433 career NHL games.

With Tristan Jarry (lower-body) out week-to-week, Silovs will be the go-to option between the pipes for the Penguins, beginning with Thursday's contest against the Washington Capitals. The 24-year-old Silovs struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four goals on 33 shots (.879 SV%) in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, but has otherwise been solid, boasting a 2.66 GAA and .913 SV% in seven games (3-2-2). The Penguins enter the action on Thursday as slight -103 home underdogs against a Capitals team coming off a dominant 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues last night.

Koivunen has been back and forth from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season, but could get another shot to draw into Pittsburgh's lineup after being recalled on Thursday. The 22-year-old Finnish forward has a whopping 11 points (4G / 7A) in six AHL games, but only one point (0G / 1A) in seven games at the NHL level.

Hallander has spent parts of the 2025-26 season playing alongside Sidney Crosby, and has tallied four points (1G / 3A) in 12 games. It's unclear if Hallander will be able to play when the Penguins return to action on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. If Hallander is unable to suit up, expect Ben Kindel to take his spot on Pittsburgh's top line.

The Penguins have evenly alternated goalie starts through 14 games this season, but will rely on Arturs Silovs for at least the next three weeks, as Jarry has been placed on Injured Reserve due to a lower-body injury. Jarry has played well this season but had a forgettable outing on Monday, allowing four unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in seven games this season (5-2-0).

Acciari was limited to two shifts in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, exiting the game in the first period after only 1:10 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old bottom-six forward will be sidelined for at least three weeks after being placed on Injured Reserve. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games this season.

Brazeau was off to an outstanding start to the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 12 games. The 27-year-old journeyman was en route to proving he belongs in the NHL, but has been sidelined for the previous two games due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least the the next four weeks after being placed retroactively on Injured Reserve.

Brazeau was off the an outstanding start to the season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 12 games. The 27-year-old journeyman was en route to proving he belongs in the NHL, but has been sidelined for the previous two games due to an upper-body injury and will miss at least one more after being placed retroactively on Injured Reserve.

Acciari was limited to two shifts last night, exiting the game in the first period after only 1:10 time-on-ice due to an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old bottom-six forward will be sidelined for at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. He has three points (0G / 3A) in 13 games this season.

Pickering has been limited to only four of Pittsburgh's first 14 games this season, averaging 12:06 time-on-ice and scoring zero points. The 21-year-old defenseman was Pittsburgh's 21st-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Injuries to Justin Brazeu and Noel Acciari have allowed Pittsburgh to recall Heinen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). Heinen has accumulated 241 points (96G / 145A) in 566 career games over the last decade, but was unable to crack Pittsburgh's roster to start the season. The 30-year-old Heinen has 14 points (5G / 9A) in 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL this season.

Graves is no stranger to the NHL, with 118 points (32G / 86A) in 433 career games, but started the season in the AHL, where he has seven points (1G / 6A) in 10 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The 30-year-old Graves was called up after Ryan Shea was reassigned to the AHL.

With Tristan Jarry (undisclosed) placed on Injured Reserve, Pittsburgh has recalled Murashov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). The 21-year-old Murashov was drafted a fourth-round pick of the Penguins in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He has a 1.73 GAA and .931 SV% in seven AHL games this season (5-2-0).

The Penguins have evenly alternated goalie starts through 14 games this season, but will rely on Arturs Silovs for at least the next week, as Jarry has been placed on Injured Reserve due to an undisclosed injury. Jarry has played well this season but had a forgettable outing last night, allowing four unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has a 2.60 GAA and .911 SV% in seven games this season (5-2-0).

After a disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them finish as the worst defensive team in the Eastern Conference (3.57 GA / GP), the Penguins are off to a surprisingly strong start in 2025-26 (8-3-2) and have shown significant improvements defensively thus far (2.77 GA / GP). Jarry will return to the crease for the Penguins on Monday, looking to improve a solid 2.35 GAA and .923 SV% through six games (5-1-0). Still, the Penguins enter Monday's contest as +159 road underdogs against a Toronto Maple Leafs team coming off a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.