Here's Alex Letang, taking on equipment manager duties in addition to his role coaching the defense:

Mike Sullivan said on Thursday that he and Alex Letang "spent half an hour together watching film this morning."

"Incredibly impressed," Sullivan said of Kris Letang's son. "He's a wise 12-year-old. He plays center, doesn't play defense, I learned that this morning."

Sullivan and the elder Letang were having a light back-and-forth after the skate over a breakout strategy, and Sullivan made sure to let Kris know Alex agreed with him, not his dad.

Hmm. Last guys on the ice: Ryan Shea, Jesse Puljujarvi … and Kevin Hayes. Matt Nieto came off with the game guys. So Hayes looks like he’ll be a scratch, and Nieto gets back in.

Evgeni Malkin packed his lucky “Sid” hat, not his “Geno” one. Bodes well for a win, usually.

First goalie off is … Tristan Jarry. He’ll start.

Alex Letang is out here watching the morning skate.

On the ice for the optional morning skate: Alex Nedeljkovic, Tristan Jarry, Mike Chiasson, Evgeni Malkin, Owen Pickering, Ryan Shea, Anthony Beauvillier, Matt Nieto, Jesse Puljujarvi, Kevin Hayes, Drew O’Connor

Solely to illustrate a point, I made this one (almost) about Marc Johnstone ...

Wilkes-Barre's injured list grew Wednesday to 10: Defensemen Jack St. Ivany (week-to-week, upper-body), Sebastian Aho (lower-body, no timetable), Scooter Brickey (lower-body, week-to-week), Mac Hollowell (no specifics), Filip Kral (no specifics), Nikolai Knyzhov (lower-body, no timetable), forwards Raivis Ansons (upper-body, day-to-day), Emil Bemstrom (upper-body, day-to-day), Jimmy Huntington (lower-body, longer-term) and Avery Hayes (no specifics).

Forward Boris Katchouk's four goals Wednesday were the difference in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 6-4 win over the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Wilkes-Barre was outshot 15-6 in the opening period, but carried a 1-0 lead into first intermission after Katchouk's penalty-shot goal. Wilkes-Barre was again outshot 15-6 in the second period, and trailed 2-1 after Charlotte scored a power-play and an even-strength goal.

Tristan Broz tied the game in the third period with his eighth goal of the year, and then Katchouk scored to put the Penguins up 3-2. Boko Imama made it 4-2 with his second goal of the year, and then Katchouk scored on the power play to make it 5-2. The Checkers got a pair of late goals 1:29 apart, and then Katchouk scored into the empty net -- his fourth goal of the game, and 11th of the season. With goals on a penalty shot, power play, even strength and into the empty net, he was a shorthanded goal away from the full five goals, five ways cycle. Katchouk only had four shots on goal in the game, and scored on every one of them. He had never had a professional hat trick before Wednesday.

Katchouk, 26, is a former 2016 second-round pick of the Lightning. He's in his seventh professional season, but his first without an NHL contract. The Penguins signed Katchouk to a one-year AHL deal in October. His 15 points (11 goals, 4 assists) in 19 games are tied for the second-most on the team.

Joel Blomqvist took the win with 38 saves on 42 shots. Imama fought Charlotte's Trevor Carrick in the second period, coming an assist shy of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.