CRANBERRY Twp., Pa. \u2014 The Pittsburgh Penguins\u2019 playoff hunt got a little tougher Tuesday.<\/p>\n
On the heels of the team recalling prospect Ville Koivunen<\/a> from the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins earlier Tuesday, the team announced that forward Evgeni Malkin<\/a> would miss Tuesday\u2019s game against the Colorado Avalanche and is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n The team had demoted Koivunen back to WBS last week, and he played Sunday against the Toronto Marlies.<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Shea skated with Connor Clifton on the third pairing at the skate. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Evgeni Malkin<\/a> Ville Koivunen<\/a> <\/p>\n