Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs is scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Dan Muse announced Silovs’ status approximately two hours before the opening faceoff.
In 35 games this season, Silovs has a 17-10-8 record, a 2.99 goals-against average, an .890 save percentage and two shutouts.
Silovs has never faced the Panthers in his career.
Notes:
• This will be the first game in a rare two-game “series” between the Penguins and Panthers at PPG Paints Arena. The teams are scheduled to rematch on Sunday.
• Neither team held a morning skate.
• Penguins forward Rickard Rakell has a six-game scoring streak (seven goals, two assists).
• Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has 1,399 career points.
• Penguins forward Bryan Rust has 499 career points.
• According to the team’s website, the Panthers are scheduled to start goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. In 50 games this season, Bobrovsky has a 27-21-1 record, a 2.96 goals-against average, an .881 save percentage and four shutouts.
Bobrovsky was in net for a 5-3 home loss to the Penguins on Oct. 23. In that contest, he made 12 saves on 17 shots.
• Former Penguins defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is scheduled to be scratched by the Panthers in Saturday’s contest due to a broken nose.
• Former Penguins forward Evan Rodrigues is designated to injured reserve for the Florida Panthers due to a finger injury.
• The scheduled referees are Jim Brenk (No. 26) and Mitch Dunning (No. 20), while the linespersons are Mark Shewchyk (No. 92) and Dylan Blujus (No. 57).