Alex Ovechkin’s announcement on Monday that this will be his final NHL season instantly put the calendar in focus for Penguins and Capitals fans, and the first of the four remaining regular-season meetings arrives tonight. Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin will go head-to-head again at 7:30 p.m. in Washington, the opening chapter in what now feels like the last run of a defining rivalry.
The Penguins are coming in off Monday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, and Tuesday’s practice brought a tweak to the forward group. Hendrix Lapierre was moved up to Sidney Crosby’s line, while Nick Robertson slid down to the fourth line.
There was also a positive development on the injury front. Bryan Rust looked close to a return from an upper-body injury after taking part in Tuesday’s practice in a regular-contact jersey. Rust has missed Pittsburgh’s first three games and skated alongside Ben Kindel and Ville Koivunen.
Around the league, the NHL shut down its “Hot for Hockey” marketing campaign less than a week after it began. The short, romance novel-style audio stories featured real NHL players, but the league said the project was meant to run only one week as a season-opening promotion. The seven episodes on Spotify have since been removed, and there are no plans for more.
In New York, Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov made his first NHL start in nearly two years on Tuesday against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 38-year-old was back after partial replacements on both knees and had not played since Nov. 29, 2024, before missing the following season.
And in Nashville, Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NHL draft, scored his first career goal on Tuesday night. He beat Juuse Saros in the second period of his fourth professional game.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Have A Roster Situation Fans Need To Watch
The Penguins forward group took on a different look this week after a trade with Edmonton brought in defenseman Spencer Stastney and sent Filip Hallander the other way. For a team still sorting out its lineup and trying to keep the back end stable, any move like that can ripple through the depth chart quickly, especially with the schedule moving fast and roles still being defined.
There is also a more immediate personnel wrinkle to monitor around Andrei Kuzmenko, who has returned from Russia and is with the club but will not play right away as he adjusts. Coach Dan Muse confirmed that part of the picture, and Bryan Rust is also a game-time decision for the upcoming game, leaving Pittsburgh with a little more uncertainty than usual as it tries to settle on who is available. [Read more 🡒]
Bryan Rusts Return Forces A Penguins Lineup Shakeup
Bryan Rust is back on the Penguins roster after being activated off injured reserve, bringing an end to the extended recovery from an upper-body injury he suffered in the preseason. His return gives Pittsburgh another veteran piece up front at a time when the lineup has already been shifting around, and it comes just as the schedule offers a familiar measuring-stick opponent in Washington.
The timing of the move also reflects a bit of roster reshuffling behind the scenes, with Pittsburgh making room by dealing Filip Hallander to Edmonton for Spencer Stastney. Rusts presence should immediately change the look of the forward group, and the next question is how the Penguins line combinations settle once hes back in game action. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Make Early Move To Address A Defensive Concern
The Penguins took an early step toward shoring up a defensive concern by adding Spencer Stastney, a 26-year-old left-shot defenseman, from Edmonton. The move gives Pittsburgh another option on the blue line after a busy start to the season, and it comes with a player who already has some NHL experience, having appeared in 66 games last season split between the Oilers and Predators.
Filip Hallander goes the other way after opening the current season with two points in two games, part of a short NHL resume that now sits at seven points in 18 career games. For Pittsburgh, the trade is a sign that the front office is willing to address the rosters balance early, even if the long-term picture for the newcomer will be something to watch as the year unfolds. [Read more 🡒]