The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Stuart Skinner in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the rival Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Coach Dan Muse announced Skinner’s status following an optional morning skate in Cranberry.

Muse did not offer much detail as to what gave Skinner the edge over rookie goaltender Arturs Silovs.

“We’ve had the benefit of two guys who have played great for us all year,” Muse said. “We went through our process and Skinner is starting.”

Additionally, Muse declined to say if he planned on maintaining the undeclared platoon in net that has largely been in place between Skinner and Silovs. Since mid-December, Skinner and Silovs have alternated almost every other start.

“We take things a game at a time,” Muse said. “I’m not going to go anywhere past Game 1 on anything. That’s just not in regard to that question. That’s everything. We are focused solely on Game 1.”

In 50 games this past regular season, Skinner had a 23-17-9 record, a 2.92 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage and two shutouts.

Throughout his career, Skinner has faced the Flyers in eight games and has posted an 8-1-2 record, a 2.45 goals- against average and a .913 save percentage.

Notes:

• Muse indicated fourth-line forwards Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte will be available for Saturday’s lineup. Dewar (undisclosed) and Lizotte (right hand) were sidelined for the final four and 15 games, respectively, due to various injuries.

• Those who participated in the morning skate:

Forwards – Justin Brazeau, Kevin Hayes, Ben Kindel, Lizotte, Elmer Soderblom

Defensemen – Sam Girard, Ryan Graves, Justin Livanavage, Ryan Shea, Ilya Solovyov, Jack St. Ivany

Goaltender – Silovs

• The Flyers are expected to start goaltender Dan Vladar. In 52 games in the regular season, Vladar had a 29-14-7 record, a 2.42 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.

Throughout his career, Vladar has faced the Penguins in six games and has posted 2-3-1 record, a 3.10 goals-against average and an .899 save percentage.

• The scheduled referees are Chris Rooney (No. 5) and Peter MacDougall (No. 38), while the linespersons are Devin Berg (No. 87) and James Tobias (No. 61). Garrett Rank (No. 7) is the standby official.