Evgeni Malkin has missed Pittsburgh’s last three games, and now he’ll also miss at least the next two.
On Tuesday, head coach Mike Sullivan announced that Malkin will be held out for the remainder of this week to deal with his lower-body injury.
Malkin hasn’t played since registering two assists in a 6-5 win over Ottawa on Feb. 2, missing Friday’s 6-3 loss to the Bolts, Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Panthers and Monday’s big 6-2 whipping of Anaheim.
Sullivan: Malkin will be held out this week. Still says it's not long-term, but it's also not day-to-day. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) February 9, 2016
Coach Sullivan: "Right now, Geno is in the process of rehabbing."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 9, 2016
The Penguins next play on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN), then again on Friday versus the ‘Canes. It stands to reason Malkin could very well miss the Monday, Feb. 15 game against the Panthers as well, as the Pens would be on a mini two-game road swing through Carolina and Florida, returning back to Pittsburgh for a Feb. 18 home date against Detroit.
On the year, Malkin has 49 points in 49 games and had been producing exceptionally well prior to getting hurt, with 15 points in his last 13 games.