Kris Letang sick, Owen Pickering recalled from Wilkes-Barre ahead of game against Blue Jackets

On Friday, the Penguins announced that they recalled defenseman Owen Pickering from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Fans were speculating that either someone was injured or that someone was getting traded. Fast forward to practice in Columbus, it was discovered that Letang was absent and later on coach Sullivan said that he was sick and did not travel with the team.

Pickering should be in the lineup over Grzelcyk

Yes, Owen Pickering has never had any real NHL action, but he should be in the lineup over defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. There is not much that the Penguins get out of Grzelcyk and Pickering should be playing over him.

Grzelcyk is one of those that really struggled last season and was signed in Pittsburgh as a player that the organization thought needed a change of scenery. That has not really been the case so far this year and if anyone needs to be scratched for Pickering, it's him.

The Penguins also need to be playing a lot of their young guys as they have a few called up now and should be seeing what they have in them, even though it is seriously early in the year.

Other Game Notes

Coach Sullivan also announced that Tristan Jarry will start tonight's game for the first time in weeks since being in Wilkes-Barre.

Another note is that forward Matt Nieto looks to draw into the lineup for the first time in almost a year. Nieto has not played since last December against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nieto is also insurance with Blake Lizotte having another concussion.

The Penguins will play on the road at Columbus tonight and then travel back home to take on the San Jose Sharks tomorrow night in a back-to-back.

Alex Nedeljkovic looks to get the start in the second half of the back-to-back, and maybe we will see youngsters Ponomarev and Pickering draw into the lineup then.