Pens Practice Updates: Malkin returns to the ice

The Pittsburgh Penguins look like they will have Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup this week.

Malkin who missed the final three games before the All-Star break with a sinus infection and banged up knee, is practicing with his teammates this afternoon.

Malkin is skating

very well and getting good power from his injured right knee. He also has a lot of zip on his shot.

Regarding his prospects for tomorrow night, knee doesn’t look like an issue at all. Only thing I see that could hold him out for tomorrow’s game is if the team feels he isn’t there stamina wise yet, as he’s recovering from a sinus infection.

Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby as expected is not skating and will miss his 10th straight game tomorrow night. Crosby has been sidelined with a concussion since January 6th.

LINES

Cooke – Staal – Kennedy

Kunitz – Letestu – Dupuis

Rupp – Talbot – Conner

Asham – Malkin – Adams

D-PAIRS

Orpik – Letang

Martin – Michalek

Goligoski – Lovejoy

Godard – Engelland

3:00 p.m. – Zbynek Michalek is February mustache boy.

1:45 p.m. – Defenseman Kris Letang has made it back from Raleigh and is on the ice as practice is about to begin. Marc Andre Fleury is also back with the team.

1:30 p.m. – The Pittsburgh Penguins officially kick off the All-Star break today at 2:00 p.m. as the team returns to practice after a five day break. The team will then travel to New York later this evening for Tuesday’s contest against the New York Rangers.

At this time, none of the Penguins injured players before the break (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) are on the ice going through pre-practice individual workouts.