The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to be pretty shorthanded on the forward front for their final regular season game before the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina begin.

But they will be getting some reinforcements - including one forward getting his first recall to the NHL level.

On Thursday, the Penguins announced that forwards Blake Lizotte and Rickard Rakell will be unavailable for Thursday's game against the Buffalo Sabres, as Lizotte and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child and Rakell is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. In addition, Noel Acciari missed practice with an illness, and he will be a game-time decision.

In a correpsonding move, the Penguins recalled forward prospect Avery Hayes from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), their AHL affiliate. Hayes, 23, has 13 goals and 23 points in 31 AHL games on the season, including four goals and six points in his last six games. 

Pittsburgh Penguins At Buffalo Sabres Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To WatchThe Pittsburgh Penguins will try to go into the Olympic break on a high note.

Undrafted, Hayes signed a two-year entry level contract with the Penguins last spring, which kicked in for the 2025-26 season. As one of the final NHL roster cuts during Penguins' training camp, Hayes is a feisty, versatile forward that can be plugged anywhere in a lineup and play on both special teams units. 

Should Hayes make his NHL debut against the Sabres, he will be the 11th rookie to appear in a game for the Penguins this season, which is the top mark in the NHL.

Penguins' Top Forward Prospect Scores First AHL Goal In 4-1 WinIt certainly hasn't taken long for <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' top forward prospect Tanner Howe to adjust to professional hockey.

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