Lower ankle sprain hindering Malkin?
The right foot injury to star center Evgeni Malkin has gone from a day-to-day injury to a week-to-week injury as the reigning art ross trophy winner missed his fourth straight game Sunday night.
Pittsburgh chances of repeating may rest on Evgeni Malkin getting healthy and playing at the elite level he played at last spring.
With six games remaining in the regular season, Pittsburgh’s sole focus is getting Evgeni Malkin back to full health before the playoffs begin.

“He’s possible for Wednesday, ” Dan Bylsma said in his post-game comments but Bylsma did not sound optimistic and made it clear that getting Malkin healthy is the most important thing for the Penguins moving forward.
We’re more apt to make sure this is 100 percent than put him out there in a boot and skate when it’s not 100 percent, Bylsma said.
“I hope he’s getting better and I think he’s getting better, and we’ll see him back on the ice in the next couple of days…..but we’re not going to put him back if it’s in-one and out-one situations.”
The Penguins did rush Malkin back to the ice initially but sources tell me the concern from the training staff is more about the right leg lower ankle sprain Malkin is believed to have suffered late in the Hurricanes game.
The injury likely resulted from Malkin’s right foot not being 100% to begin with and the newest injury has caused him serious problems with his lateral movement which was clear in Friday’s practice.
In 63 games played this season, Malkin has recorded 24 goals and 46 assists for 70 points.