Evgeni Malkin Sports Regular Contact Jersey At Pens Practice
By: KDKA-TV News Staff
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It appears that Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is one step closer to recovery.
Malkin was spotted wearing a regular contact jersey at practice Saturday morning.
Prior to that, he was in a non-contact jersey.
????BIG NEWS????
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) December 18, 2021
EVGENI MALKIN IS WEARING A REGULAR CONTACT JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME!
Until now, he had been practicing in a non-contact fashion starting Nov. 29.
Malkin has been making steady progress after a knee surgery this summer to address an injury sustained last season.
Coach Sullivan gives the update on Evgeni Malkin, the NHL's updated COVID protocols, and more after today's practice. pic.twitter.com/XqdCfSukPt
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 18, 2021
"Geno wasn't a full participant. He had limited contact. The practice didn't involve a whole lot of contact in it, but certainly his participation was as to close to what we've gotten to 100%," Head Coach Mike Sullivan said.
Experts believe he still won't join a regular-season game before Christmas but that anything is possible.
Evgeni Malkin is in a regular jersey today, signifying that he's been cleared for contact. Seems unlikely that he'll be back before Christmas. But we'll see.
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) December 18, 2021