Malkin Practices, Hopes To Return In Round 1
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins opened the playoffs with a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers Wednesday night.
They did it without a list of regulars in the lineup, but could some healthy bodies return soon?
This afternoon, the Penguins held an optional practice. Injured players Beau Bennett and Bryan Rust participated along with Marc-Andre Fleury and Evgeni Malkin.
Malkin suffered an "upper-body" injury on March 11 and missed the final 15 games of the season. His initial recovery was expected to last 6-8 weeks, which would put his return closer to the end of the first round or the start of the second round.
He has skated on his own a couple of times, but he might join the rest of his teammates for practice on Friday. He remains optimistic about getting back into the lineup soon as well.
#Pens Malkin may join team practice tomorrow. Believes he can return before end of First Round series vs #NYR -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) April 14, 2016
This would be another step in his recovery, but he also took contact during today's optional practice.
Coach Sullivan: "Geno had a great day. We thought he looked really strong... he was involved in contact."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 14, 2016
Fleury missed Game 1 against the Rangers as he continues to recover from a concussion. Missing Game 1 was not due to a setback in his recovery, however.
#Pens M-A Fleury didn't have a setback. He and team decided he wasn't ready to play. Still progressing -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) April 14, 2016
A starting goalie for Game 2 on Saturday has not been announced.
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