Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs is scheduled to start Thursday’s home game against the Washington Capitals.

Coach Dan Muse announced Silovs’ status following an optional morning skate in Cranberry.

In seven games this season, Silovs has a 3-2-2 record, a 2.66 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and one shutout.

Silovs has never faced the Capitals in four partial NHL seasons.

Notes:

• Penguins rookie forward Filip Hallander is sidelined on a day-to-day basis, according to Muse. He left practice early on Wednesday.

In 13 games this season, Hallander has four points (one goal, three assists) while averaging 13:09 of ice time per contest.

• In Hallander’s absence, the team recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Wednesday morning.

Koppanen has appeared in six AHL games this season and has scored two points (one goal, one assist) while primarily operating as a middle-six center.

• Penguins rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke is expected to be a healthy scratch. He was among a group of reserves who remained on the ice for more than an hour after an optional morning skate began at 10:30 a.m.

Still eligible to return to the junior level, the 19-year-old Brunicke has played in nine NHL games. Should he appear in a 10th contest, the first year of his three-year entry-level contract would formally be tolled.

Muse indicated no decision has been made on Brunicke’s future as of yet.

• Penguins veteran defenseman Ryan Graves and forward Danton Heinen are expected to make their season debuts at the NHL level after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Tuesday.

Both players cleared waivers prior to the start of the regular season before being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

• Those who participated in the optional morning skate were:

Forwards – Kevin Hayes, Ben Kindel, Ville Koivunen, Koppanen, Blake Lizotte, Tommy Novak

Defensemen –Brunicke, Connor Clifton, Matt Dumba, Graves, Ryan Shea

Goaltenders – Sergei Murashov, Silovs

• The Capitals did not stage a morning skate after traveling overnight following a 6-1 home win against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

• The Capitals are expected to start goaltender Charlie Lindgren. In four games this season, Lindgren has a 1-2-1 record, a 3.46 goals-against average, an .880 save percentage and one shutout.

• Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun has 99 career goals.

• Capitals defenseman Rasmus Sandin has 99 career assists.

• The scheduled referees are Brandon Blandina (No. 39) and Jake Brenk (No. 26) while the linesmen are Matt McPherson (No. 83) and Kyle Flemington (No. 55).

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