Evgeni Malkin is officially a game-time decision for Game 3 but the expectation is Malkin will suit up for the first time this series tomorrow night.

Malkin who was targeting a Game 2 return, was held out Sunday afternoon and took another step towards returning for Game 3 with a full practice today.

Malkin centered Dominik Simon and Bryan Rust on the second line.

A surprising development for the Penguins isn’t Malkin’s impending return, as the Penguins internally believed Malkin would return somewhere between Games 2-4, but it’s Carl Hagelin’s availability to return soon in the series.

Hagelin took part in his first practice and while he’s being deemed as a longshot to play in Game 3, he’s tracking towards a return by Game 4.

Like Malkin, Sullivan officially labeled Hagelin as a game-time decision.