- Malkin rejoins the Penguins after clearing COVID-19 protocol
Evgeni Malkin was back on the ice with his teammates after clearing the COVID-19 protocol, and will officially be a game-time decision for Sunday's afternoon matinee in New Jersey.
"I would anticipate the probability that he will play," head coach Mike Sullivan said.
Malkin missed Tuesday's game in Boston after testing positive for COVID-19 during the All-Star break. And while Sullivan said that he believed Malkin had tested out of COVID-19 protocol on Wednesday, he was unable to travel to Canada for Thursday's matchup with Ottawa because of the country's COVID restrictions.
Malkin headed into the All-Star break on a nine-game point streak, and while that officially ended once he was sidelined, the 35-year-old superstar is eager to pick up where he left off when he returns to the lineup.
- O'Connor remains status quo
Drew O'Connor, who has missed the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, was a full participant for a second straight day after being cleared for contact on Thursday. He first rejoined the Penguins in the team's first practice out of the All-Star Break on Monday in Boston.
"Getting a lot more comfortable out there now," O'Connor said. "Started taking contact the last couple of days, so feeling really good."
Sullivan said that O'Connor remains status quo, and the 23-year-old forward was hesitant to put any sort of concrete timetable on a return.
"I'm not sure how long until coming back, I think maybe a few more days," O'Connor said. "Hopefully get cleared by the doc in the next day or so. But I think getting contact in has been helpful, and hopefully a couple of more practices and can start looking towards playing a game."
We'll see if the New Jersey native makes the trip back to his home state, where he is expecting a decent turnout of family and friends in the stands at the Prudential Center regardless of whether or not he is able to play.
- Attendance
In addition to Malkin and O'Connor, Danton Heinen, Zach Aston-Reese, Radim Zohorna, Dominik Simon, Marcus Pettersson, Chad Ruhwedel, Mark Friedman and Casey DeSmith all took the ice for the optional practice today.
The Penguins practice again on Saturday morning at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex before traveling to New Jersey, where they will look to get their third straight win. Puck drop is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
