CRANBERRY Twp., Pa. — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff hunt got a little tougher Tuesday.
On the heels of the team recalling prospect Ville Koivunen from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins earlier Tuesday, the team announced that forward Evgeni Malkin would miss Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche and is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
This season, Malkin has posted more than a point per game, scoring 15 goals with 52 points in 50 games. The 39-year-old moved from center to the wing earlier this season following a shoulder injury.
Koivunen, 22, has struggled to maintain consistency at the NHL level this season. In 33 games, he has just seven points (2-5-7), after recording seven points in eight NHL games last season.
The team had demoted Koivunen back to WBS last week, and he played Sunday against the Toronto Marlies.
Update: Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea will most likely play Tuesday. Following the morning skate, the defenseman indicated he would play, and do so with a full face shield. However, coach Dan Muse tempered that expectation, but only slightly.
Muse affirmed Shea was a full participant in the morning skate and looked fine, but Muse wanted to get final confirmation from the player and doctors before declaring Shea in the lineup.
Shea skated with Connor Clifton on the third pairing at the skate.
Tags: Evgeni Malkin Ville Koivunen
Categorized:Penguins News