The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without five key forwards—Noel Acciari, Blake Lizotte, Rutger McGroarty, Tommy Novak, and Matt Nieto—for the remainder of the 2024 NHL regular season due to undisclosed injuries, head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Thursday following practice in Cranberry.
Rookie Rutger McGroarty Out, May Return for AHL Playoffs
Top prospect
Rutger McGroarty is among the sidelined players, having suffered a suspected left foot injury during Tuesday’s 5-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The 20-year-old left the arena in a walking boot and will miss Pittsburgh’s final three games. However, there’s optimism he could return in time for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
McGroarty has made a strong impression in limited NHL action, notching three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight games while averaging 14:37 of ice time. In the AHL, he’s posted 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) across 60 games, solidifying his status as one of the Penguins’ most promising young forwards.
Noel Acciari’s Ironman Streak Comes to an End
Veteran forward
Noel Acciari, one of only three Penguins to appear in all 79 games this season, will also miss the final stretch. Typically utilized on the bottom six, Acciari contributed 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) and averaged 13:46 of ice time.
Blake Lizotte, Tommy Novak, and Matt Nieto Also Sidelined
Blake Lizotte, who usually skates alongside Acciari, was absent from Wednesday’s lineup and has recorded 20 points (11 goals, 9 assists) in 59 games this season.
Tommy Novak, acquired from the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline, hasn’t played since March 9 and has missed 13 games. He went scoreless in two games with Pittsburgh before his injury.
Matt Nieto has bounced between the NHL and AHL this season. At the NHL level, Nieto posted three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 32 games while averaging 12:15 of ice time. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has notched seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 15 appearances.
Penguins Recall Reinforcements from AHL
In response to the injuries, the Penguins made emergency call-ups Thursday morning, summoning Emil Bemstrom, Vasily Ponomarev, and Valtteri Puustinen from the AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Additional Injury Notes
- Defenseman P.O Joseph skated before practice but remains on injured reserve, having missed 17 straight games with an undisclosed injury.
- Forward Philip Tomasino, out with a concussion, also skated individually. He has missed the last two games.
Penguins Practice Lines and Pairings – April 10
Forward Lines:
- Ville Koivunen – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
- Danton Heinen – Evgeni Malkin – Rickard Rakell
- Valtteri Puustinen – Kevin Hayes – Connor Dewar
- Joona Koppanen – Vasily Ponomarev – Emil Bemstrom
Defensive Pairings:
- Matt Grzelcyk – Kris Letang
- Conor Timmins – Erik Karlsson
- Ryan Graves – Ryan Shea
Power Play Units:
Unit 1: Crosby, Grzelcyk, Koivunen, Rakell, Rust
Unit 2: Hayes, Karlsson, Letang, Malkin, Puustinen
