The Pittsburgh Penguins have officially activated goaltender Tristan Jarry and winger Ville Koivunen from the injured reserve ahead of their game against the Buffalo Sabres. This comes as the Penguins aim to improve their performance after a challenging stretch of games.
Upcoming Game Against the Sabres
The Penguins are set to face the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. EST. Jarry’s return is particularly significant as he will take the starting position in goal. He previously missed seven games due to a lower-body injury sustained during a match against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 3.
Player Updates
- Tristan Jarry: Activated from injured reserve. He holds a record of 5-2-0 with a .911 save percentage in seven games this season.
- Ville Koivunen: Also activated and will be inserted into the lineup. He replaces Ben Kindel on the third line.
- Sergei Murashov: Re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after a brief NHL stint.
Koivunen, who sustained a lower-body injury during the Penguins’ Global Series against the Nashville Predators, will be looking to enhance his performance. He has recorded two assists in 11 games this season, a stark contrast to his impressive seven assists in just eight games last year.
Recent Performance and League Standing
Pittsburgh has struggled in recent games, posting a 2-2-3 record during Jarry’s absence. With the activation of both Jarry and Koivunen, the team hopes to improve its fortunes. The Penguins currently hold a position of fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 10-6-5 record.
Game Strategy and Lineup Changes
Koivunen will be playing on the third line alongside NHL debutant Tristan Broz and Tommy Novak. He will also feature on the second power play unit with Kevin Hayes, Danton Heinen, Kris Letang, and Novak. The Penguins are optimistic that these changes will contribute to halting a troubling streak of five losses in six games.
As they prepare to welcome the Sabres, the Penguins aim to leverage their key player returns to regain momentum in their season.
