Nieto scored a goal and went plus-2 in Thursday's 9-2 win over the Canadiens.
Nieto had been scratched for the previous three games. He opened the season scoreless over nine outings before breaking through in Game No. 10 with his first tally of the season. The 32-year-old is mostly a defensive forward and figures to spend the bulk of his playing time on the fourth line. He has added 10 shots on net, seven hits, seven blocked shots and a minus-4 rating this season.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Ready to play Friday
Rotowire
Nieto (knee) was taken off injured reserve and will be in action against the Blue Jackets on Friday.
Nieto will play in an NHL game for the first time in nearly a year, having last suited up versus the Lightning on Nov. 30, 2023. The winger has never reached the 30-point threshold in his career but should still be capable of putting up 20-plus points in a bottom-six role now that his knee injury is finally behind him. Once Kevin Hayes (upper body) and Cody Glass (concussion) are cleared to play, minutes could be harder to come by for Nieto, though he should be in the lineup more often than not.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Back from conditioning stint
Rotowire
Nieto (knee) was recalled from his conditioning assignment Thursday.
Nieto remains on injured reserve but could be trending in the right direction toward a return to action versus the Blue Jackets on Friday. During his two-game stint in the minors, the forward recorded one goal and a plus-2 rating for the Baby Pens. Once given the all-clear, Nieto should be in the mix for a bottom-six role, which could relegate Jesse Puljujarvi or Valtteri Puustinen to a spot in the press box.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Starting conditioning assignment
Rotowire
Nieto (knee) was sent to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a conditioning loan Saturday.
It's a significant step for Nieto in his return following offseason knee surgery. The veteran winger played 22 games with the Penguins last year, logging one goal and four points.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Cleared for contact
Rotowire
Nieto (knee) was a full-contact participant at practice Monday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Nieto has been skating with the team for a while but appears to have upped his participation level Monday. Given the long-term nature of the 31-year-old forward's knee injury, he probably shouldn't be expected to immediately jump into the lineup versus the Islanders on Tuesday. Once given the all-clear, Nieto will have to be activated off long-term injured reserve, a move that will likely send Valtteri Puustinen down to the minors.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Considered month-to-month
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Nieto (knee) is considered to be month-to-month, per Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.
Nieto is likely to begin the season on the long-term injured reserve list but that hasn't officially happened yet. He had a goal and four points in 22 contests with the Penguins in 2023-24. When he's healthy, Nieto will probably serve in a bottom-six capacity.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Has knee surgery
Rotowire
Nieto underwent reconstructive MCL surgery on his left knee surgery May 2, the team announced Wednesday. He's expected to require six-to-seven months to recover.
Nieto last played Nov. 30, 2023 and underwent laparoscopic surgery on his right knee back in January. His new timetable suggests that he won't return until November at the earliest. Nieto should be in the mix for a bottom-six role once he's healthy.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Suffers secondary injury
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Nieto (knee) sustained an undisclosed injury while rehabbing from his knee surgery. The center could find himself heading back under the knife ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports.
Nieto was limited to a mere 22 appearances this season in which he tallied a meager five points. At this point, there seems to be some concern that Nieto won't be fully healthy in time for the start of next season.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Ends season on shelf
Rotowire
Nieto only drew into 22 games in an injury-riddled campaign in 2023-24.
Nieto only managed four points through the 22 games he was healthy for, so fantasy managers don't need to track his status.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Out 6-8 weeks
Rotowire
Nieto underwent successful laparoscopic surgery Thursday and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks.
Nieto was injured Nov. 30 in Tampa Bay and has missed the last 14 games. He has a goal and four points in 22 games this season in a bottom-six role.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Shifts to LTIR
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Nieto (lower body) was moved to long-term injured reserve Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Nieto is eligible to be activated whenever he is ready, but coach Mike Sullivan said Tuesday that the Pittsburgh forward is still facing an extended absence. Nieto, who hasn't played since Nov. 30, has chipped in four points, 13 shots on goal, nine blocked shots and 12 hits over 22 outings this season.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Return not imminent
Rotowire
Nieto (lower body) is still considered out "longer-term" according to coach Mike Sullivan, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports Tuesday.
Nieto returned to skating Dec. 22 but has yet to practice with the team and should probably be considered out indefinitely at this point. Given the amount of time he has already missed, 13 games dating back to Nov. 30, Nieto could be headed for long-term injured reserve when the Penguins activated Bryan Rust (upper body) off injured reserve.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Skating Friday
Rotowire
Nieto (lower body) skated for the first time since suffering his injury Friday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Nieto's return to the ice is certainly a step in the right direction but the fact that he has yet to practice with the team all but rules him out versus the Senators on Saturday. Still, with some extra time off due to the Christmas break, Nieto may be healthy enough to play when the Penguins return to action versus the Islanders on Wednesday.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Moves to IR
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Nieto (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Sunday, per CapFriendly.
Nieto, who didn't play in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to Philadelphia, will miss at least two more games following his placement on IR. He has generated one goal, three assists, 13 shots on net and 12 hits in 22 outings this season.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Not playing Saturday
Rotowire
Nieto will miss Saturday's tilt versus Philadelphia with a lower-body injury, according to Penguins reporter Michelle Crechiolo.
Nieto suffered the injury in Tampa Bay on Thursday. He has averaged only 11:37 of action this season over 22 games, scoring once and adding three assists. Consider him day-to-day at this time.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Picks up assist Thursday
Rotowire
Nieto recorded an assist in Thursday's 4-2 win over Tampa Bay.
Nieto remains mired in a 12-game goalless streak but has been starting to add some offensive production with three helpers in his last six outings. If he can get over the 20-point mark for the second consecutive season, the Penguins will no doubt be satisfied with his production as a fourth-line player.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Nets goal Saturday
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Nieto scored a goal and went plus-2 in Saturday's 10-2 win over the Sharks.
Nieto put the Penguins ahead 7-1 with his second-period tally against one of his former teams. The goal was the 30-year-old's first point in 10 contests this season. Nieto has added seven shots on net, eight hits, six blocked shouts, four PIM and a plus-1 rating. The California native is unlikely to see much more than a fourth-line role when the Penguins are healthy.
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Penguins' Matt Nieto: Grabs two-year pact
Rotowire
Nieto penned a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Penguins on Saturday, Darren Dreger of TSN reports.
Nieto logged a combined 81 games for the Sharks and the Avalanche last season, tallying 12 goals, 12 assists and 115 shots while averaging 13:31 of ice time. The winger figures to bolster a bottom six that underwhelmed during the previous campaign while also adding some grit to the Pens' lineup.
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Avalanche's Matt Nieto: Produces two assists
Rotowire
Nieto notched two assists and four shots on goal in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Sharks.
Nieto's production Thursday matched his output from the previous 11 games combined. The winger had a hand in both of Ben Meyers' tallies that helped the Avalanche pad their lead. Nieto is up to 12 goals, 12 assists, 111 shots on net and a minus-15 rating through 76 contests between the Avalanche and the Sharks this season.
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Avalanche's Matt Nieto: Pockets helper
Rotowire
Nieto provided an assist in Monday's 5-1 win over the Ducks.
Nieto has two helpers during his active eight-game goal drought. The 30-year-old winger is up to 22 points, 103 shots on net, a minus-15 rating and 30 blocked shots through 72 appearances between the Avalanche and the Sharks.
