Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Jeff Carter are slated to be in the lineup for Saturday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.

Coach Mike Sullivan announced their status following an optional morning skate.

“It goes without saying they offer us so much on both sides of the puck,” Sullivan said. “We’re just a much better hockey team when they’re in our lineup. We’re excited to have them back in the lineup. It gives us more depth. It makes our power play more dangerous. It makes matchups more difficult for our opponents. It has a ripple effect on our whole team but these guys are real good players. It’s nice to get some of these guys starting to come back to our lineup.”

Crosby has yet to play this season as a result of offseason surgery to his chronically injured left wrist on Sept. 8. He opened the season on the NHL’s non-roster injured list.

Carter has been sidelined since Oct. 12 after testing positive for covid-19. He was placed on the league’s list for covid-19 protocol on Monday.

Both players officially returned to the active roster on Saturday afternoon.

Notes:

• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is expected to start for the Penguins. In five games this season, he has a 3-1-1 record, a 1.78 goals against average and .933 save percentage.

• Forward Bryan Rust participated in the optional morning skate wearing a white non-contact jersey. He has been sidelined since suffering an undisclosed injury on Oct. 14. He remains sidelined on a “week to week” basis.

• In addition to Rust and Jarry, those who took part in the morning skate included forwards Teddy Blueger, Brian Boyle, Sam Lafferty, Drew O’Connor and Dominik Simon; defensemen Mark Friedman, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel; and goaltender Casey DeSmith.

Follow the Penguins all season long.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)