Evgeni Malkin is aiming to return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup this week after missing 15 games due to an upper-body injury. Malkin participated fully in practice on Tuesday, following a previous session in a no-contact jersey.
“Best feeling, you know? You have more fun. When you skate alone, it’s not great,” Malkin said. “But good day for me. Tough a little bit, but again, I’m happy to be back with the team, enjoy with guys. One more practice tomorrow (Wednesday), and I hope (to be back) this week.”
The Penguins are currently on a five-game winning streak as they prepare for Thursday’s game against New Jersey. The team had faced difficulties during Malkin’s absence.
Malkin last played on December 4 in Tampa Bay, where he scored twice including the game-winning goal. He described how his condition changed overnight: “I feel so nice after the Tampa game, we win, I score a couple goals. But then, next day, I do not feel great.”
What was initially expected to be a short-term recovery turned out longer than anticipated. “It’s (a) weird injury, but not crazy. It’s small things, but it’s annoying,” he said. “Every day it’s like, pain. And again, last couple of weeks, I do lots of stuff. Last probably three or four days, I feel so much better. And again, I hope (to be) back this week.”
Malkin emphasized his determination entering the final season of his current contract: he wanted to approach each day with commitment and enjoyment.
Before his injury, Malkin ranked second on the team with 26 points and had registered points in 11 of 15 games.
Addressing his return from injuries throughout his career with Pittsburgh—a franchise established in 1967 that has won multiple Stanley Cups and is known for its longstanding presence in professional hockey—Malkin commented: “It’s not my first time back,” he said. “I know what the feeling is like. I feel great. My body, I work out every day, my legs feel great. I need to play a couple shifts, and I think I will be fine. We have a great team. My linemates, teammates, they support me so much. You need to play a little bit, and your confidence back, for sure.”
During Malkin’s absence earlier in the season—when Sidney Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux as all-time points leader for the Penguins—the team struggled before regaining momentum after the holiday break.
“Very proud for him. It’s like, probably not surprised,” Malkin said about Crosby’s achievement.“Every year we see what (he’s) done… He’s leadership in the locker room on ice.”
He added humorously: “But I’m behind him,you know? Like,I’m still here,and he’s feeling it,you know?(It’s) why he played good,because he wants to be number one for sure.”
Malkin credited recent improvements to strong teamwork:“I tell you before,we have a great team.We have good guys here.We have tough seven or eight games before,but now we’re back.It’s a little bit up and down right now,but right now,last couple games guys play amazing.”
“When we play right when we play smart,we can beat any team.We showed(that the)last five games.We play amazing.We fight every game for playoffs,every team is close.We know it’s what 40-plus games left.Just play all of them and yeah,we have long break Olympic break.Be smart,recover your body still(be)working.And after February,it’s(a)big run for us for sure.Because this year,every team has chance to make playoffs for sure.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their season at PPG Paints Arena under Fenway Sports Group ownership.They remain active both competitively within NHL standings and through community initiatives across Pittsburgh.
