The Penguins will have a morning skate at 2:30 p.m. Eastern here in San Jose ahead of tonight's game against the Sharks. It'll likely be a full skate because of the off day yesterday. I'll have updates below.

• People outside are in winter coats. It’s 67 degrees.

• Evgeni Malkin is “week-to-week,” Bryan Rust is a game-time decision.

• Scratches are Jesse Puljujarvi, Blake Lizotte and P.O Joseph based on the guys still out there after the skate ends. Boko Imama looks to get another game.

• Obligatory, “you’ll have to wait and see” from Bryan Rust when asked if he’ll play tonight. He loves doing that. I asked the question fully expecting that answer:

• Bryan Rust is not happy the Bills and Commanders lost.

• First goalie off: Alex Nedeljkovic.

• Matt Nieto got hit just above the mouth. He’s in the locker room now and has a mark above his mouth.

• Noted puck magnet Matt Nieto, who took a puck to the ear last game, got hit up high just now on the penalty-kill. He was hunched over in pain for a bit then seemed to be checking his teeth, looked like he got hit in the mouth. He's staying out there.

• Second power play: Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Kevin Hayes, Anthony Beauvillier, Phil Tomasino

• First power play: Matt Grzelcyk, Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, Michael Bunting

• So, to sum up: Looks like Bryan Rust is in. Not clear yet who sits on the third pairing or fourth line, but should get an idea of that later when the scratches sit out late. Either way, looks like no Jesse Puljujarvi yet.

• Here are the lines and pairings. The three guys on the third pairing are rotating equally with each other, no telling yet who is the odd one out. Jesse Puljujarvi is rotating in on the second line, though Anthony Beauvillier is the one getting most of the reps. The fourth line guys are also all rotating in with each other, taking turns being the odd one out. Blake Lizotte was out on the first run but did mix in as center on subsequent runs.

Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Michael Bunting - Cody Glass - Anthony Beauvillier/Jesse Puljujarvi
Drew O'Connor - Kevin Hayes - Phil Tomasino
Boko Imama/Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari - Matt Nieto 

Marcus Pettersson - Kris Letang
Matt Grzelcyk - Erik Karlsson
Ryan Graves - Ryan Shea/P.O Joseph

• Everybody is on the ice except for Evgeni Malkin, who was placed on injured reserve earlier.

• Blake Lizotte, who missed the last two games with an illness, is also on the ice.

• Jesse Puljujarvi is here and on the ice for the skate.

• First skater on the ice: Bryan Rust, who missed last game with a lower-body injury. He's in a regular jersey. That doesn't always mean anything in an optional morning skate, but this is a full one.