Penguins' Evgeni Malkin to return from lower-body injury vs. Flyers

Sportsnet Staff @SportsnetMay 03, 2021 - 12:41pm

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres. (Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin will be back in the lineup Monday against the Philadelphia Flyers after being out since mid-March with a lower-body injury.

Malkin had missed the past 23 games with the injury, one of multiple injured Penguins skaters during that time, but the team has been one of the hottest clubs during that time. Since Malkin was injured on March 16, the Penguins have a .739 points percentage which is tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for second-best league-wide.

Other injury updates from Coach Sullivan:
– Rodrigues is still day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He did not skate today.
– Matheson is week-to-week with an upper-body injury.
– Tanev skated with full contact for the first time today. He has not been cleared to play yet.

— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) May 3, 2021

The 34-year-old has eight goals and 24 points in 29 games this season. The Penguins have four games remaining in the regular season.

In other Penguins injury news, head coach Mike Sullivan announced that defenceman Mike Matheson is week to week with a face injury after being struck with a puck on Saturday. Sullivan also announced that forward Brandon Tanev practiced with contact for the first time Monday and is nearing a return from an upper-body injury.

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