Pens Tidbits: Dealing with recurring soreness, Pens should sit Malkin from game action until next weekend

Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin who has missed four straight games and six this season, returned to practice today. Malkin is dealing with recurring knee soreness on his surgically repaired knee. He skated well today but didn't have a great jump in his step by any means.

There is no long-term concern regarding the injury but getting rid of the recurring soreness has been a struggle thus far. However, there is some talk today that the Penguins are considering letting Malkin play tomorrow night against New Jersey Devils, which would be his first action in nine days.

If Malkin plays tomorrow night, will this be another situation where he's in a game then out for the next couple? Surely can't rule it out.

"If he were to play every game we would be dealing with soreness, " head coach Dan Bylsma said on Thursday, explaining why Malkin hasn't been in the lineup. "It needs to calm down. It needs to get better, " Bylsma said. "By playing everyday it’s not going to get that way. Unfortunately we play everyday."

The Penguins schedule doesn't let up until next weekend.

Rest and treatment is said to be on the only real cure with Malkin's knee issue and with four games in seven days to wrapup the schedule in October, starting tomorrow night against New Jersey, the Penguins should consider shutting down Malkin from game action for the rest of the month or at least until next Saturday's matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Penguins upcoming four game stretch has little rest time in between games with them playing Saturday vs NJD (10/22), Tuesday @ NYI (10/25), Thursday vs NYI (10/27) and Saturday @ TOR (10/29).

Following the Leafs game on the 29th, the team is off until Thursday, November 3rd when they travel to San Jose.

Tidits, Rumblings, Musings