Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is expected to rejoin his team’s lineup for a game against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.
After Malkin participated in an optional morning skate in Cranberry, coach Dan Muse indicated Malkin will likely be in the lineup, pending clearance from the team’s medical staffers.
“All things are pointing that way,” Muse said. “But we have to have some final conversations.”
An unspecified shoulder injury has sidelined Malkin for the past 15 games. He will need to be formally activated from injured reserve to dress for Thursday’s game.
During a practice session in Cranberry on Wednesday, Malkin operated on the left wing of the second line with rookie Ben Kindel at center and Egor Chinakov on the left wing.
Primary deployed as center of the second line between left winger Anthony Mantha and right winger Justin Brazeau, Malkin has appeared in 26 games this season and scored 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) while averaging 17:30 of ice time per contest.
Notes:
• The team assigned rookie forward Ville Koivunen to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
• Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner is scheduled to start Thursday’s game.
In 28 games this season, Skinner has a 13-11-4 record, a 2.83 goals-against average, an .888 save percentage and two shutouts.
Throughout his career, Skinner has faced the Devils in three games and posted a 0-3-0 record, a 4.08 goals-against average and an .871 save percentage.
• Defenseman Caleb Jones participated in the morning skate. Currently designated to injured reserve due to a suspected left foot injury, he has been sidelined since Oct. 23.
“It’s unfortunate there with the injury,” Muse said. “With regards to the status, it doesn’t change anything. It’s another step in the right direction there. For him, it’s been a long time now. I’m sure there’s a lot of excitement to be out there with a larger group than he’s been accustomed to in terms of the skates. It’s always, I think, a big step for someone that’s been out of the lineup for a significant time.”
Jones appeared in seven of the team’s first eight games before his injury. Primarily deployed on the left side of the third pairing, Jones recorded one assist while averaging 17:10 of ice time per contest.
“What I saw out of him, I think it’s the puck movement, the ability to close and take away time and space, the stick detail,” Jones said. “All of those things were in a good place there prior to him getting hurt. It’s a good step there that he’s out there, even though it’s non-contact.”
• Those who participated in the optional morning skate included:
Forwards – Connor Dewar, Kevin Hayes, Ben Kindel, Malkin, Tommy Novak
Defensemen – Connor Clifton, Jones, Ryan Shea, Jack St. Ivany
Goaltender – Arturs Silovs
• The Penguins enter the contest with a season-best five-game winning streak.
• Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson has 698 career assists.
• According to the team’s website, the Devils are scheduled to start goaltender Jake Allen.
In 22 games this season, Allen has an 11-9-1 record, a 2.55 goals against average, a .913 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Allen has faced the Devils in 11 games, posting an 8-3-0 record, a 2.10 goals against average, a.925 save percentage and two shutouts.
• The Devils’ lines and pairings during Thursday’s morning skate:
86 Jack Hughes – 13 Nico Hischier – 63 Jesper Bratt
28 Timo Meier – 91 Dawson Mercer – 81 Arseny Gritsyuk
47 Paul Cotter – 12 Cody Glass – 36 Connor Brown
18 Ondrej Palat – 14 Luke Glendening – 11 Stefan Noesen
43 Luke Hughes – 22 Brett Pesce
71 Jonas Siegenthaler – 7 Dougie Hamilton
5 Brenden Dillon – 17 Simon Nemec
• The Devils are coming off one of their most lopsided losses in franchise history. On Tuesday, they were bludgeoned, 9-0, by the New York Islanders at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
• The scheduled referees are Francois St. Laurent (No. 8) and Riley Brace (No. 49) while the linesmen are Andrew Smith (No. 51) and James Tobias (No. 61).
• Brace is a former member of the Wheeling Nailers. In 2015-16, he led that team in scoring with 67 points (26 goals, 41 assists) in 56 games and helped it reach the Kelly Cup Final.