Penguins activate Kindel and Girard off injured reserve

The Pittsburgh Penguins are getting back a pair of depth players.

Forward Ben Kindel and defenceman Sam Girard were activated from the injured reserve on Thursday, the team announced.

Kindel returned to practice on Tuesday after a scary incident where the 19-year-old centre collapsed on the team's flight back from Utah due to a vasovagal episode.

Penguins head coach Dan Muse said to reporters Thursday morning that"everything's looking good" with Kindel, Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov,"so expecting them in."

Kindel has two points and two assists in nine games this season for Pittsburgh and has not played since Oct. 19.

A native of Coquitlam, B.C., Kindel recorded 35 points (17 goals and 18 assists) in 77 games last season, his first in the NHL.

Meanwhile, Girard is a game-time decision for Pittsburgh's home game against Utah Thursday night (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m.

PT on Sportsnet).

The 27-year-old blue-liner has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury after crashing hard into the end boards on Oct. 17 in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Girard has seven points (one goal, six assists) in nine games this season and had 19 points over 60 games split between the Penguins and Colorado Avalanche in 2025-26.

Meanwhile, Malkin (illness) had not played since Oct. 22 and Chinakov (lower body) since Oct.

19.

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