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Penguins may get Malkin back; Canucks will be without Horvat

Pittsburgh Penguins v Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 18: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on January 18, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

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Evgeni Malkin will be a game-time decision tonight when his Pittsburgh Penguins host Vancouver.

Malkin has not played since Jan. 24 due to a lower-body injury. And though the Pens have done just fine without the star center, going 4-1-2 in the seven games he’s missed, they’d love to get him back all the same.

“I think that getting him back just makes us that much more dangerous,” said captain Sidney Crosby, per NHL.com. “I think everybody can fall into more of their usual roles, maybe, in some sense. Even with Geno back we’ve still got some guys out, so I’m sure there will be a little bit of juggling.”

The Penguins who remain out are injured forwards Carl Hagelin, Bryan Rust, and Conor Sheary.

The Canucks, meanwhile, are not expected to have All-Star center Bo Horvat in the lineup. The 21-year-old suffered a deep bruise in his foot while blocking a shot in the closing moments of Sunday’s 4-2 victory in Buffalo.

“It’s frustrating,” said forward Jannik Hansen, who’s recently formed an effective line with Horvat and Alex Burrows. “It feels like we’ve finally hit the ground running a little bit; we’re creating chances and getting rewarded. And this kind of throws a wrench into that.”

Brendan Gaunce has been recalled from AHL Utica to take Horvat’s spot in the lineup.

Update:

The Canucks may also be without Brandon Sutter.