The Pittsburgh Penguins have begun to turn things around after a challenging start to the 2026-27 NHL season, winning two games in a row and looking to make it three for the first time this year against the visiting Utah Mammoth on Thursday night.

The club made several roster moves ahead of that matchup, activating forward Justin Brazeau from injured reserve and assigning him to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on a conditioning loan.

Brazeau hasn't appeared in a game this season after suffering a lower-body injury during the preseason. The assignment gives him an opportunity to get game action before returning to Pittsburgh's lineup.

The 28-year-old managed 17 goals and 17 assists in 64 games in his first campaign in Pennsylvania, and he should provide the team with an offensive spark when he is ready to return.

Brazeau signed a two-year, $3 million contract with Pittsburgh ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The Penguins also placed Elmer Soderblom on IR and reassigned forward Avery Hayes and defenseman Chase Pietila to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The moves create roster flexibility as Pittsburgh awaits the potential returns of Ben Kindel and Samuel Girard.

Kindel suffered a vasovagal episode shortly after the team took flight following a 5-4 loss to Utah on Oct. 19. He was treated in hospital and returned to practice earlier this week.

Girard, who has been in and out of the lineup with an undisclosed ailment, could also be an option against the Mammoth at PPG Paints Arena.

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The defenseman has appeared in nine games this season, putting up a goal and seven points while averaging a shade under 19 minutes of ice time.

Evgeni Malkin could also return Thursday after missing Saturday's 3-2 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators because of illness.

He was back at practice Wednesday and taking rushes on the second line with Kindel and Egor Chinakhov. The Russian has amassed six goals and nine points over 11 games in 2026-27.

Currently in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division, the Pens will look to make up some ground — and keep the wins coming — against the 8-5-0 Mammoth. Puck drops just past 7 p.m. ET.