Forward Evgeni Malkin left the Penguins morning skate early and will not play Friday. Coach Mike Sullivan said Malkin has been dealing with an upper-body injury for some time and the decision was made to hold him out of the lineup against the Devils. Sullivan said he expects to have more information on Malkin's status Saturday. Malkin, who missed seven games last month with a lower-body injury, has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in his past seven games and is fifth in the NHL with 72 points and tied for fourth with 33 goals. Malkin is the latest Penguins player to miss time because of an injury, a list that now also includes defenseman Ron Hainsey, who is week to week because of an upper-body injury sustained in a 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. "I can't say we haven't gone through this before," forward Sidney Crosby said. "The teams we're playing against aren't going to feel sorry for us so we have to find ways to just hold on until we can get guys back." One prominent piece could return; forward Patric Hornqvist took part in the morning skate and said he is symptom-free from a concussion that has kept him out the past five games, and he would be a game-time decision. The Penguins, who have lost two in a row (0-1-1), are one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for second place in the Metropolitan Division and three points behind the first place Washington Capitals.
