The Pittsburgh Penguins, facing dwindling playoff hopes, remain determined and aim to break a three-game losing streak. Their upcoming home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, both positioned at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, will be without depth center Noel Acciari. He’s sidelined due to an upper-body injury, as confirmed by head coach Mike Sullivan after he was absent from the morning skate.
Acciari, in his inaugural season with the Penguins (2023-24), has proven to be a reliable depth center. While not a significant offensive contributor, his defensive skills and effectiveness on the penalty kill have been appreciated by the team. Interestingly, in the recent game against the Edmonton Oilers, his injury wasn’t apparent, and he completed the match with over 15 minutes of ice time.
Jansen Harkins, on the other hand, didn’t complete the game and is currently under evaluation for an upper-body injury. Head coach Sullivan mentioned he’s a game-time decision for the matchup against the Jackets, suggesting he’s likely to be included in the lineup.
