Captain Sidney Crosby will remain out of the lineup when the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, the club announced, but centreman Derick Brassard will return to face his former club.
The Hull, Que., native, who has been sidelined since Oct. 25 with a lower-body injury, will suit up for his first game against the Senators since the team traded him south to Pittsburgh in February 2018.
“It’s always special to come back and play here or play in Montreal,” Brassard told reporters Saturday. “It’s always weird to come back and play your friends, former team. You just have to put everything aside and just focus on playing.”
Brassard has a goal and five total points through eight appearances for Pittsburgh so far this season. The 31-year-old posted eight points through 15 games with the Penguins to close out 2017-18 as well, following the mid-season trade.
He’ll make his much-needed return for a Penguins squad that has dropped to last place in the East following a dismal 1-7 stretch, the pivot likely skating alongside Phil Kessel.
“I’ll be in the lineup tonight. It’s been a long three weeks. It’s pretty tough to be out and see the team struggling and not winning games,” Brassard said Saturday. “I’m just going to try to come in and help.”
Pittsburgh re-assigned forward Garrett Wilson to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after activating Brassard from injured reserve.
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