The Penguins are expected to start goaltender Dustin Tokarski for Friday’s home game against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena. It will be his first career start for the Penguins.

Tokarski made his Penguins and season debut on Tuesday in a 5-4 home win against the Vancouver Canucks. During that contest, Tokarski made 18 saves on 19 shots in 52:11 of ice time. He replaced Casey DeSmith who allowed three goals on only five shots in only 7:05 of action and led the Penguins to a comeback victory despite an early three-goal deficit.

Recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Jan. 3, Tokarski has appeared in 18 AHL games this season and has an 8-6-4 record, a 2.22 goals against average, a .926 save percentage and one shutout.

The 33-year-old Tokarski has spent parts of nine seasons in the NHL. In 77 career games, he has a 23-32-12 record, a 3.11 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout.

With the Penguins playing the Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday, DeSmith is expected to start that contest.

Notes:

• The Penguins staged an optional morning skate on Friday. Those in attendance included:

Forwards – Evgeni Malkin, Drew O’Connor

Defensemen – Taylor Fedun, Jan Rutta, Ty Smith

Goaltenders – DeSmith, Tokarski

• Prior to the morning skate, injured Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Ryan Poehling all worked out on the ice with goaltending coach Andy Chiodo and assistant coach Ty Hennes.

Jarry and Poehling are currently designated to injured reserve due to undisclosed ailments while Petry is designated to long-term injured reserve due to a suspected left arm injury he suffered Dec. 10.

• Injured forward Josh Archibald did not skate as he had a scheduled day off in his recovery from an undisclosed injury. He is currently designated to injured reserve.

• Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen has 99 career assists.

• The Jets, who traveled to Pittsburgh following a 4-2 road win against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, did not stage a morning skate.

• With All-Star Connor Hellebuyck coming off a 39-save effort against the Sabres, the Jets are expected to start backup goaltender David Rittich. In 10 games this season, Rittich has a 6-4-0 record, a 2.75 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

• Jets forward Kyle Connor, a product of the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League at the junior level, has 199 career goals.

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