Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs is scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Dan Muse announced Silovs’ status approximately two hours before the opening faceoff.
In 32 games this season, Silovs has a 15-9-8 record, a 2.90 goals-against average, an .894 save percentage and two shutouts.
Silovs previously faced the Jets this season in a 5-2 road loss on Nov. 1. He made 29 saves on 33 shots in that defeat.
Notes:
• Penguins defenseman Sam Girard is expected to be available to rejoin the lineup, according to Muse. An undisclosed injury has sidelined Girard for the previous five games.
• Penguins forward Bryan Rust has appeared in 699 career games.
• Penguins forward Egor Chinakhov has 99 career points.
• Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has 799 career points.
• Girard has 198 career assists.
• The Jets are expected to start goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. In 46 games this season, Hellebuyck has a 17-19-10 record, a 2.83 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Hellebuyck has faced the Penguins in 14 contests, posting a 5-6-3 record, a 2.28 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage and one shutout.
• Prior to the game, the Jets activated defenseman Neal Pionk from injured reserve. He has missed the past 23 games due to an undisclosed ailment.
• The scheduled referees are Carter Sandlak (No. 29) and Kelly Sutherland (No. 11), while the linespersons are James Tobias (No. 61) and Kyle Flemington (No. 55).
