Pittsburgh Penguins star centerman Evgeni Malkin will be sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained in Tuesday’s game against the St.Louis Blues. Malkin collided with Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson in a knee-to-knee hit and was not able to put weight on his left leg. He left the game and did not return. Malkin missed Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins and will remain out of the lineup until at least after the All-Star break.
Evgeni Malkin will miss tomorrow's game and the All-Star Game with a lower-body injury, per Sullivan.
— Sam Werner (@sjwerner11) January 25, 2017
Consequently, Malkin will be missing the All-Star Skills Competition and the All-Star Game scheduled for this upcoming weekend. There was no definite timetable for a return, but head coach Mike Sullivan stated that Malkin would be re-evaluated after the All-Star Break and more information would be available then regarding the extent of the injury.
HCMS: Evgeni Malkin is out vs. Boston & will miss All-Star Game with a lower-body injury. Status will be re-evaluated after break. #Pens
— Josh Getzoff (@JG_PxP) January 25, 2017
Malkin, 30, has been nothing but outstanding for Pittsburgh this season, skating in 47 games and tallying 22 goals as well as 32 assists for a total of 54 points. Malkin has been a top line player for the Pens this year, playing physical hockey, allowing himself to get to open ice and use his skills to snipe on goalies and run up the score sheet. The Pens are hoping for Malkin to make a quick recovery, and that his injury is nothing too serious. Malkin is currently three assists away from hitting 500 career helpers and is on track to hit over 100 points this season, a task he as not done since the 2011-12 National Hockey League season.
His 54 points are tied with Sidney Crosby for the team lead. Malkin is ranked third in the NHL in total points, fifth in total goals, and fourth in assists. In his career with the Penguins, Malkin has skated in a total of 691 games, scoring 317 goals and 497 assists. He was drafted second overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
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