Penguins defenseman Kris Letang remains sidelined due to illness

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss Saturday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks at PPG Paints Arena because of an unspecified illness. It will be the second consecutive game he has been scratched with the malady.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced Letang’s status approximately two hours before Saturday’s game.

Letang was sidelined for a 6-2 road loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday. He did not travel with the team for that game.

In 18 games this season, Letang has six points (two goals, four assists) while averaging 23 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time, the top figure on the squad among non-goaltenders.

Notes:

• Per Sullivan, goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic will start Saturday’s game.

In nine games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 2-3-3 record, a 3.21 goals-against average and an .884 save percentage.

Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic has played the Sharks twice and posted a 1-0-1 record, a 2.48 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

• The Penguins did not stage a morning skate Saturday.

• Penguins forward Anthony Beauvillier has a three-game goal-scoring streak.

• Penguins forward Sidney Crosby has 698 career goals.

• The Sharks are expected to start goaltender Vitek Vanecek.

In nine games this season, Vanecek has a 2-5-1 record, a 3.25 GAA and .903 save percentage.

Throughout his career, Vanecek has faced the Penguins in 13 games and has an 8-1-3 record, a 2.46 GAA and a .914 save percentage.

• Sharks forward Mikael Granlund has 398 career assists.