It was picture day for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And boy, did Stuart Skinner stand out as he and his teammates posed for the official photograph of the 2025-26 edition of the club Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena.
But it wasn’t his burly mustache or his unusual jersey number (74) that distinguished Skinner.
Rather, it was for the colors he displayed.
There was a vivid blend of red, blue, purple, pink, black and yellow hues around his left eye.
The veteran goaltender knew he didn’t look good. But he wasn’t concerned with cosmetic appeal.
He was simply very appreciative of his good fortune.
“I’m extremely lucky,” Skinner said after participating in an optional practice Tuesday. “If I was looking a little bit more to my left, it could be right in the eye. Fortunate.”
Skinner was injured Saturday during the second period of a 9-4 home win against the Florida Panthers. Dressed as the backup to rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs, he was sitting on the bench when a puck struck him near his left eye.
He “finished” the game, as it were, on the bench and even participated in the team’s typical handoff of a player-of-the-game trophy, albeit while sporting a visible abrasion near his eye.
And he seemed set to start in Sunday’s rematch at home against the Panthers when he went to bed Saturday.
But, unlike the Commodores, things were not easy for Skinner on Sunday morning.
“When I went to bed, I (thought), ‘I’m good, no problem,’ ” Skinner said. “Then I woke up, and my eye had kind of closed (swelled) on me. To be honest, I just thought the betterment of the team would be if I didn’t play. It’s not the time for me to be too proud and try to play without being able to see a little bit to my left.
“You want to give the team the best chance to win, and Sunday just wasn’t the right spot for me.”
While Skinner was examined by an eye doctor and ruled out, Penguins management scrambled to find a replacement goaltender to serve as Silovs’ backup for Sunday’s game, which had an opening faceoff at 3:08 p.m.
Ultimately, Taylor Gauthier was recalled from the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and made the relatively brief hour-long drive from the northern panhandle of West Virginia to sit on the home bench at PPG Paints Arena.
Another goaltender also showed up, having made a roughly four-hour journey from Northeast Pennsylvania, but he did not walk into the arena until 3:20 p.m.
Sergei Murashov, one of the franchise’s top prospects with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, was making breakfast when his morning routine was disrupted.
“I was cooking breakfast, and (defenseman) Finn Harding — we are roommates — he (said), ‘Check your phone. You got a call from (Penguins assistant general manager Jason) Spezza. I sprint to my room, I checked, I had two missed calls from Jason. Called him back, he said, ‘We need you for the game. The game is (3:08 p.m.)’ So, I packed as quick as could. And while I was waiting for my gear, he called me again and they figured I wouldn’t be able to make it in time.
“So, they called up Taylor (Gauthier) as well, which I’m super happy for him. (Spezza) said to me drive safely. So, I arrived here and watched the game. It was kind of a fun experience.”
On Tuesday, the Penguins formally recalled Murashov to the NHL roster and assigned Gauthier to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Murashov’s presence is largely a precaution in the event Skinner’s injury lingers by the time the Penguins play their next game, a road contest Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.
Considered the goaltender of the future for the Penguins, the 22-year-old Murashov might be the organization’s best goaltender in the present, even if he is still developing.
Murashov has appeared in 35 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, posting a 23-8-3 record, a 2.13 goals-against average, a .922 save percentage and three shutouts to warrant his AHL All-Star selection.
Given that the Russian-born Murashov is in only his second season on this continent, he understands there is still room to grow.
“I wouldn’t judge my game right now,” Murashov said. “It’s kind of unnecessary because it’s already in the past. I’m staying in the present. So, there was experience. But in general, the season is not over. And the most exciting part is ahead. It’s early to say how I’m playing.”
He had plenty to say, however, about watching Sunday’s game in the press box with Skinner, a six-year veteran who has been to the past two Stanley Cup Finals as a member of the Edmonton Oilers.
We had a great conversation,” Murashov said. “Shared our experiences from my career (and) from his. It was nice to hear some stories about his journey. He’s a great guy. Awesome to be around. Awesome to (see) how he is working. And pick up a few things.
“I hope he wouldn’t be mad if I take something from him.”
Anger was the furthest emotion Skinner conveyed when asked about his interaction with Murashov.
“He seems like an amazing guy,” Skinner said. “I didn’t know he was only 22. We got to talking. Talked a little bit about hockey. Talked about some family. Just seems like a stand-up guy.
“I was really happy to get on the ice with him (Tuesday). I was super excited for that. I feel like we’ve got a really good group of guys.”
If Skinner is part of the group the Penguins take the ice with Thursday against the Devils, that is yet to be determined.
But he is optimistic
“I feel good,” Skinner said. “We’re taking it just one skate at a time, one day at a time. All we’re really focused on right now is me going to see the (medical staffers on Tuesday) and talking about how I felt. They’re going to check my eye, make sure everything is all good.
“I’m very much hoping that I get to.”
Notes:
• The Penguins issued several team awards Tuesday, including: team MVP (defenseman Erik Karlsson); the Players’ Player award, which recognizes leadership (forward Sidney Crosby); the Unsung Hero award (forward Noel Acciari); Rookie of the Year award (forward Ben Kindel); Defensive Player of the Year (forward Blake Lizotte and defenseman Ryan Shea); and the “Baz” Bastien Memorial Trophy for cooperation with local media (forward Bryan Rust)
• Penguins goaltending prospect Gabriel D’Aigle, a third-round draft pick (No. 84 overall in 2025) signed a professional tryout contract for the remainder of the season with the Nailers. He previously signed a three-year NHL contract with the Penguins, which begins next season, on March 21.