Game 70: Morning Skate Buzz: Malkin leaves ice after 15 seconds, won’t play

Pittsburgh Penguins (41-23-5-87pts) @ New Jersey Devils (41-24-3-85pts)

Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin attempted to participate in the Penguins morning skate but left the ice after 15 seconds according to a source on the scene. Malkin will not play tonight.

The big news out of today’s morning skate is that New Jersey Devils No. 1 defenseman Paul Martin will make his return tonight from a fractured left forearm. Martin has not played since October 24th when he was hit by a Bill Guerin shot.

The lines Pittsburgh used in practice Tuesday will remain the same tonight. Alex Ponikarovsky will move up to the first line with Sidney Crosby and Pascal Dupuis

With Malkin not playing, Tyler Kennedy will be the Penguins third line center. Kennedy played center extensively in the minors but has prominently played wing at the NHL level.

Kennedy will center Matt Cooke and Ruslan Fedotenko tonight.

Defenseman Alex Goligoski was a healthy scratch Sunday afternoon and the Penguins 7th defenseman in practice Tuesday but head coach Dan Bylsma may alter his blueline once again tonight.

The Penguins just concluded their morning skate and I’m told Goligoski worked with with the 1st power play unit and took a regular shift with Jordan Leopold.

Just a day after Jay McKee worked exclusively with Leopold in practice and is coming off a strong game in which he garned praise from head coach Dan Bylsma.

Both players are expected to participate in warmups.

*Marc Andre Fleury will start in goal.

Tonight’s Lines

Ponikarovsky – Crosby – Dupuis

Kunitz – Staal – Guerin

Cooke – Kennedy – Fedotenko

Rupp – Adams – Talbot