Post-Morning Skate Update: Malkin update, Bylsma on Crosby & more notes

*Indications are Evgeni Malkin should play tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Malkin was testing his left knee for most of the morning skate and even left the ice at one point but later returned.

He appears to be lingering a bit but it doesn’t appear serious by any means. Malkin did work with the first power play unit with Chris Kunitz and Mark Letestu down low and Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang at the point.

However, you can’t rule out Malkin being downgraded later in the day like the Columbus game last month but as things stand right now, he looks to be in.

*Winger Matt Cooke said today that he missed the Montreal game due to a family illness. He will be n the lineup tonight and is expected to skate on the second line with Staal and Malkin.

*There was no clear indication this morning as to which defenseman will sit if the Penguins are able to dress 12 forwards. The Penguins have been very pleased with Ben Lovejoy, whose play is picking up of late but it is Deryk Engelland’s turn to get back in.

*Sidney Crosby’s concussion was the hot topic this morning and as expected, Dan Bylsma said that Crosby had no concussion symptoms following the Winter Classic and he did not play him against Tampa Bay with any knowledge of Crosby having a concussion.

“After the Winter Classic Crosby did not have any concussion symptoms, ” Bylsma said. “After the Tampa Bay game he was not feeling right.”

Bylsma was asked about reports that Crosby suffered a concussion from the Steckel hit and about Crosby looking dazed following the hit on HBO’s 24/7 program.

“I don’t know the accusations that you’re talking about, ” Bylsma said. “I don’t feel comfortable commenting on them…. There isn’t a person who we would put {a player} on the ice that has concussion symptoms. We were accutely aware of those symptoms and dealing with our doctors. He did not go into the Tampa Bay game with any symptoms that we felt were concussion related, ” Bylsma said.”

In regards to Crosby looking dazed on HBO, Bylsma said not to read too much into it.

*Wild winger Antti Miettinen will not play tonight due to illness. He has 8 goals and 12 assists on the season for Minnesota.