Evgeni Malkin's Status '50-50' For Season Opener
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin went through his first practice and now says he could play in the Pens opener Thursday night.
"I can't say right now, because it's my first practice with the team," Malkin said. "It's 50-50. If I feel I'm in great shape, I'll come back. If not, then maybe the second game."
Malkin, as hockey players tend to do, could not tell us about what the injury was, but did say it was a minor injury and "not a big problem".
"I thought he looked pretty good for a guy who hasn't been on the ice for a month," said head coach Mike Johnston. "I thought he handled practice really well. I'm talking about conditioning and pace and moving up to speed when other players are moving at full speed."
Johnston wouldn't rule Malkin out for Thursday or Saturday, but also said Malkin may not return until next week. To help with his return, Johnston is considering starting the center at wing. They will work Malkin Wednesday as a right wing on a line Brandon Sutter centers and Pascal Dupuis is the other wing.
"Just to get him back and I like the way Sutter is playing right now, he's moving the puck really well," Johnston said. "It takes away some defensive responsibilities right away. It's something where he's a great center, we can use him at center, we know that. Getting him in with the best people right now, we may look at him playing the wing."
Malkin said he likes the new system under Johnston and he was surprised when James Neal was traded to Nashville, but said it's hockey and they lost the last 4 years and it's not good enough. "It's alright," Malkin said. "We took Patric (Hornqvist) and (Steve) Downie, they are good players. We just changed a little bit and maybe it's better for us."
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