UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was a full participant in Thursday’s morning skate at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in advance of Game 3 in his team’s first-round series against the New York Islanders.
Coach Mike Sullivan labeled Malkin as a “game-time decision” during a video conference with media after the morning skate.
This marked the first occasion Malkin has been a full participant during a morning skate or practice since May 11.
During the session, Malkin participated in line rushes, centering the second line.
The team’s lines and pairs during the morning skate:
59 Jake Guentzel – 87 Sidney Crosby – 17 Bryan Rust
16 Jason Zucker – 71 Evgeni Malkin – 42 Kasperi Kapanen
19 Jared McCann – 77 Jeff Carter – 11 Frederick Gaudreau
12 Zach Aston-Reese – 53 Teddy Blueger – 13 Brandon Tanev
8 Brian Dumoulin – 58 Kris Letang
5 Mike Matheson – 4 Cody Ceci
28 Marcus Pettersson – 6 John Marino
Malkin also worked with the top power-play unit in practice. He was joined by Crosby, Guentzel, Letang and Rust. The second unit was composed of Carter, Kapanen, Marino, McCann and Zucker.
“Obviously, he’s a huge difference-maker out there,” Marino said of Malkin. “One of the best players in the world. It’s awesome if he’s able to come back. It would be great to have him in the room, just his energy. Everyone would be fired up to have him back.”
Malkin has missed the first two games of the series due to a presumed right knee injury. He was sidelined for 23 games toward the end of the regular season due to the ailment.
Notes:
• Goaltender Tristan Jarry is expected to start for the Penguins. In two postseason games, he has a 1-1 record, a 2.20 goals against average and a .937 save percentage.
• The Islanders are expected to start goaltender Semyon Varlamov. Making his debut this postseason during a 2-1 road loss at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, Varlamov made 43 saves on 45 shots.
• While Islanders coach Barry Trotz did not formally name a starter in net, he indicated the remainder of his lineup will not change from Game 2.
• This will be the first postseason game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on April 29, 2019.
• Game 3 is scheduled to begin shortly after 7 p.m.
