A pair of Pittsburgh Penguins forwards are nearing returns from injury.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins are preparing for no question their most important game of the season against the Nashville Predators. If they win, they keep their playoff hopes alive for another game.

While most of the lineup will be unchanged for the final games of the year, the Penguins did see a pair of players return to skating with the team. As part of the full-team morning skate, forwards Noel Acciari and Jansen Harkins were present and taking part in drills.

Acciari has been sidelined since late-March with a lower-body injury but is not eligible to return until the final game of the Penguins regular season. This is his first skate with teammates, however, and he took reps in a white, non-contact uniform.

Harkins has been on the shelf since early-March when he underwent hand surgery. Part of Harkins’ recovery process saw him take a conditioning stint with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He scored a goal and picked up an assist in his one-game stint.

Both Acciari and Harkins are depth forwards who haven’t made a ton of noise on offense this season. Acciari has mostly been a fourth-line center and penalty kill specialist, while Harkins has not scored a goal in his 43 games played.

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