NHL Buzz: Malkin removed from COVID protocol, practices for Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin will be a game-time decision for the Penguins against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
The center took part in an optional skate Friday after he was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol. Malkin has missed two games while in protocol, a 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday and a 2-0 win against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
"I would anticipate the probability that he will play," coach Mike Sullivan said Friday.
Malkin has scored 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 12 games, including 10 points (three goals, seven assists) during a nine-game point streak before entering protocol. He made his season debut Jan. 11 after having knee surgery in June.
Forward Drew O'Connor, who has missed 11 games with an upper-body injury, also participated in the optional practice Friday but remains week to week.-- Wes Crosby

Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron is day to day for the Bruins because of an upper-body injury and will not play against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
The center left with 8:44 remaining in the third period of a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday after colliding with Penguins forward Sidney Crosby. He did not play in a 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
"Everybody saw, he slid into the boards," Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said Thursday. "He has a laceration on the back of his head. We're just taking it day by day. No time frame whatsoever. Just worried about his health, just like every other player in terms of what the process is."
Bergeron scored 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) in 43 games this season.
"It's involving his head, so we have to be careful," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Wednesday. "This is a guy that's had a head injury in the past. We want to make sure everything checks out. He wants to make sure everything checks out. … hopefully he's in good shape the next few days. But we're going to obviously take as much time as we need." -- Amalie Benjamin

Edmonton Oilers

Duncan Keith and Zack Kassian each will be out long term for the Oilers.
Keith is out 2-4 weeks because of concussion protocol and upper-body soreness and was placed on injured reserve Thursday. The defenseman was injured during a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday after hitting the end boards trying to break up a rush.
Keith has scored 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 35 games this season.
Kassian will be out 4-8 weeks because of a fractured jaw sustained Wednesday when the forward was hit in the face with the puck. He was placed on long-term injured reserve Thursday.
He has scored 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 35 games.