Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry and forward Bryan Rust are each expected to be available for their team\u2019s lineup entering Wednesday\u2019s game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena.<\/p>\n
Coach Dan Muse suggested both players will be able-bodied enough to suit up for the contest following a practice in Cranberry on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jarry is currently on injured reserve due to an undisclosed injury he suffered Nov. 3. During Tuesday\u2019s practice, he was heavily involved in most of the team\u2019s drills along with fellow rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs. In contrast, another rookie goaltender, Sergei Murashov, was largely relegated to a reserve role.<\/p>\n
Should Jarry be formally activated from injured reserve, Murashov will presumably be assigned to Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton of the American Hockey League. With a limited amount of service time as a professional, Murashov does not require exposure to waivers for an assignment to a minor league affiliate.<\/p>\n
In seven games this season, Jarry has a 5-2-0 record, a 2.60 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage and one shutout.<\/p>\n
By policy, the Penguins do not identify their starting goaltender until the day of a game, but the team has largely platooned almost every other start this season.<\/p>\n
Rust was not present at practice for the second consecutive day due to an undisclosed illness.<\/p>\n
Muse indicated Rust will undergo further evaluation but is expected to be available Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Typically stationed on the right wing of the top line and the top power-play unit, Rust is the team\u2019s third-leading scorer with 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) while averaging 20:09 of ice time per contest.<\/p>\n
Notes:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Muse stopped short of saying rookie forward Ville Koivunen is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday after missing the past three games due to an undisclosed injury. But he expressed optimism over the possibility.<\/p>\n
Currently designated to injured reserve, Koivunen operated on the left wing of the third line during Wednesday\u2019s practice and skated with the second-power-play unit.<\/p>\n
In 11 games this season, Koivunen has two assists while clocking an average of 12:34 of ice time per contest.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The team\u2019s lines and pairings were:<\/p>\n
19 Connor Dewar \u2013 87 Sidney Crosby \u2013 81 Ben Kindel<\/p>\n
13 Kevin Hayes \u2013 71 Evgeni Malkin \u2013 39 Anthony Mantha<\/p>\n
41 Ville Koivunen \u2013 26 Tristan Broz \u2013 18 Tommy Novak<\/p>\n
15 Joona Koppanen \u2013 46 Blake Lizotte \u2013 43 Danton Heinen<\/p>\n
28 Parker Wotherspoon \u2013 65 Erik Karlsson<\/p>\n
5 Ryan Shea \u2013 58 Kris Letang<\/p>\n
27 Ryan Graves \u2013 24 Matt Dumba<\/p>\n
Rookie forward Sam Poulin (No. 22) operated on a fourth defensive pairing with defenseman Connor Clifton (No. 75)<\/p>\n
\u2022 The top power-play unit included Crosby, Karlsson, Kindel, Malkin and Mantha. The second power-play unit involved Hayes, Heinen, Koivunen, Letang and Novak.<\/p>\n
Prior to practice, forwards Noel Acciari (undisclosed), Justin Brazeau (undisclosed) and Filip Hallander (blood clot) skated. All three are designated to injured reserve. <\/p>\n