Rust was a full participant at practice on Tuesday and skated with the top powerplay unit. Rust hasn't played the last three games, but after a down 2022-23 campaign, was in the process of having a terrific rebound season, tallying 16 points (9G / 7A) in 17 games thus far.
Aho exited Friday's contest against the Ottawa Senators with an upper-body injury and then did not play on Saturday and has subsequently been placed on injured reserve. Aho has four points (0G / 4A) and 26 blocks, averaging 14:11 time-on-ice and will miss at least one week.
Jarry will retake the crease Saturday vs. Toronto after backing up two of the Penguins' previous three games. The 28-year-old netminder is leading the NHL in shutouts (3) but has a weak record (6-8-0) despite impressive counting stats with his 2.47 GAA and .916 SV%. He will take the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are on the back end of a back-to-back where they lost to Chicago 4-3 in overtime Friday.
Aho exited the Islanders' previous game Friday vs. Ottawa after just 1:28 TOI and will be out Saturday vs. Philadelphia with no timetable for his return. The 27-year-old Swedish defensemen has yet to score this season but has four assists, 18 SOG, six PIMs and a -3 plus/minus in 19 games prior to his injury.
Grzelcyk missed the minimum of 10 games on LTIR and is expected to play Saturday in New York. Grzelcyk will replace Mason Lohrei, who was sent back to Providence (AHL) in a corresponding transaction. Grzelcyk had one goal on 12 SOG in nine games before getting hurt.
The Islanders lost both Aho and Adam Pelech on Friday, and both are questionable to play Saturday. Depending on their availability, the Islanders may be forced to make some roster moves in order to have six defensemen.
Kolyachonok had two goals, an assist, six PIMs and a +5 plus/minus in 11 games with Tucson (AHL) and will make his season debut Saturday as he takes the spot of the struggling Matthew Dumba. The 22-year-old appeared in two games for the Coyotes in 2022-23 and failed to pick up a point.
Rust's return to the lineup appears to be on the horizon as he participated in practice on Friday but unfortunately is not quite ready to return to game action. After a down 2022-23 campaign, Rust was in the process of having a terrific rebound season, tallying 16 points (9G / 7A) in 17 games thus far.
Nedeljkovic was heroic in his last contest on Sunday, posting a 38-save shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Sunday's contest marked Nedeljkovic's first game in over three weeks while he was on the injured reserve with a lower-body injury. If Nedeljkovic can put together some consistent performances, he could see more action between the pipes, as Tristan Jarry has been a workhorse thus far for the Penguins. Nedelkjovic and the Penguins are -114 road favourites against a Buffalo Sabres team that was shut out 4-0 by the Penguins on November 11th.
After winning four straight starts, Jarry has dropped his last two but will look to return to the win column as the Penguins' starter on Wednesday. Jarry has been solid this season, posting a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% through 13 games (6-7-0), but has had very little room for failure as all but one of his victories have required him to register a save percentage of .923 or better. The Penguins are slight -103 home underdogs on Wednesday against a New York Rangers team coming off their first regulation loss in 12 games (10-1-1).
Rust will miss Wednesday vs. the New York Rangers after it was announced he was day-to-day with a lower-body injury. If he is forced to miss an extedned chunk of time it would be a shame as the 31-year-old winger is on pace for career highs in almost all categories as he has nine goals, seven assists, 55 SOG, and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games played.
After winning four straight starts, Jarry has dropped his last two but will look to return to the win column as the Penguins' likely starter on Wednesday. Jarry has been solid this season, posting a 2.59 GAA and .910 SV% through 13 games (6-7-0), but has had very little room for failure as all but one of his victories have required him to register a save percentage of .923 or better. The Penguins are slight -103 home underdogs on Wednesday against a New York Rangers team coming off their first regulation loss in 12 games (10-1-1).
Rust is being evaluated by the Penguins' training staff Tuesday for a lower-body injury and is considered out until there are more updates. If he is forced to miss a chunk of time it would be a shame as the 31-year-old winger is on pace for career highs in almost all categories as he has nine goals, seven assists, 55 SOG, and a +10 plus/minus through 17 games played.
Rakell has struggled so far in 2023-24 with no goals and only four assists, 44 SOG, two PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in 17 games but will now be forced out long-term with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old right winger joins Bryan Rust, and Chad Ruhwedel on Pittsburgh's growing injury report Tuesday.
Lizotte will not play on Monday due to an undisclosed injury that will force him to miss approximately a little more than a week. Lizotte has been a regular in the Kings lineup, tallying seven points (4G / 3A) in 16 games, playing predominantly alongside Trevor Lewis and Carl Grundstrom. Jaret Anderson-Dolan will draw back into the Kings' lineup during Lizotte's absence.
