SUNRISE, Fla. — Penguins defenseman John Marino will miss Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers due to a facial injury according to coach Mike Sullivan.

“John will not play tonight,” Sullivan said. “He’s being held out for precautionary reasons. He’ll be evaluated on Monday when we get back to Pittsburgh to determine a course of action from there.”

Marino was initially injured during Thursday’s 4-2 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning when a deflected puck struck him on the left side of his face.

A source with first-hand knowledge of Marino’s status indicated he suffered broken bones but further evaluation is needed before a decision is made on potential surgery.

A rookie in his first professional season at any level, Marino, 22, has appeared in 51 games this season and has 25 points (five goals, 20 assists), eighth-most among all rookies this season. Additionally, he has logged an average of 20:19 of ice time this season, fourth-most among all rookies.

Notes:

• Goaltender Tristan Jarry will start in net for the Penguins. In 26 games this season, he has a 17-8-1 record along with a 2.19 goals against average, a .928 save percentage and three shutouts.

• Sullivan indicated forward Bryan Rust will be available to play after missing practice on Friday for what was termed as a “maintenance day.”

• Panthers All-Star forward Aleksander Barkov is expected to return to the lineup after missing three games due to an undisclosed injury.

• The Panthers are expected to start goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. In 41 games this season, he has a 20-14-5 record along with a 3.28 goals against average, an. 898 save percentage and one shutout.

• Having already won their two previous meetings with the Penguins this season — 4-2 at home on Oct. 22 and 4-1 on the road on Jan. 5 - the Panthers are poised to sweep a regular season series against the Penguins for the first time since 2003-04 when they went 4-0-0. That was the Penguins’ last season prior to drafting forward Sidney Crosby.

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