Penguins expected to scratch several top players in regular season finale

Seth Rorabaugh TribLive Tue, Apr 14, 2026 • 02:32 PM

Penguins forwards (left to right) Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell celebrate a goal against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena on March 21.

The Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust celebrate Rickard Rakell’s goal against the Jets in the first period Saturday March 21, 2026 at PPG Paints Arena. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

ST. LOUIS — The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to rest a number of their top players for their regular season finale, a road contest against the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center.

Forwards Egor Chinakhov, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust, as well as defensemen Sam Girard, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang and Parker Wotherspoon are expected to be scratched.

With nothing to tangibly gain or lose in terms of their place in the standings, the Penguins, who are in second place of the Metropolitan Division, have been selectively scratching some of their better players over the past two games.

Chinakhov, Rust, Girard and Wotherspoon all participated in a morning skate but did not take part in line rushes or special teams drills. Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, Karlsson and Letang were not present.

Notes:

Goaltender Stuart Skinner is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game. Coach Dan Muse announced Skinner’s status following the morning skate.

In 49 games this season, Skinner has a 23-17-9 record, a 2.87 goals-against average, an .889 save percentage and two shutouts.

Throughout his career, Skinner has faced the Blues in seven games, posting a 4-1-2 record, a 2.49 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

• Rookie defenseman Jake Livanavage is scheduled to make his NHL debut. Signed to a two-year entry-level contract on Friday, Livanavage completed his NCAA career with North Dakota on Thursday. In 39 games this season, Livanavage scored 25 points (five goals, 20 assists).

• The team’s lines and pairings during their morning skate were:

25 Elmer Soderblom – 81 Ben Kindel – 39 Anthony Mantha

41 Ville Koivunen – 18 Tommy Novak – 16 Justin Brazeau

2 Rutger McGroarty – 13 Kevin Hayes – 85 Avery Hayes

48 Rafael Harvey-Pinard – 15 Joona Koppanen – 55 Noel Acciari

5 Ryan Shea – 75 Connor Clifton

57 – Jake Livanage – 3 Jack St. Ivany

27 Ryan Graves – 7 Ilya Solovyov

• Harvey-Pinard was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Tuesday morning.

• Novak has a chance to be the Penguins’ only player to appear in 82 games this season.

• The Blues did not stage a morning skate after claiming a 6-3 home win against the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

The Blues are expected to start goaltender Jordan Binnington. In 40 games this season, Binnington has a 12-20-7 record, a 3.28 goals against average, an .875 save percentage and one shutout.

In nine career games against the Penguins, Binnington has posted a 3-5-1 record, a 3.41 goals against average, a .906 save percentage and 10 penalty minutes.

• The scheduled referees are Gord Dwyer (No. 19) and Michael Markovic (31), while the linespersons are Jesse Marquis (No. 86) and Jonathan Deschamps (No. 80).