Penguins' Dupuis to play 1st game in more than 11 months Thursday

The Pittsburgh Penguins, winners of three straight, are set to receive another shot to the arm.

Pascal Dupuis has been cleared and will make his long-awaited return to the lineup after being sidelined for nearly a calendar year when Pittsburgh hosts the Dallas Stars on Thursday night, the team announced.

The forward, venerated by his teammates, fans, and media alike, missed the final five months last season when he was diagnosed with blood clots. And though he earned clearance to return from the condition for this year, a lower-body injury kept him out of the first six games.

Dupuis missed just two starts across four seasons beginning in 2009-10, but was limited to 55 appearances in Pittsburgh's two previous campaigns combined.

He's expected to take Daniel Sprong's spot in the lineup, though the rookie forward has had his visa issue resolved.