Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin exited Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers after taking a shot off his right knee midway through the third period. Here’s what you need to know:
- Sidney Crosby’s slap shot appeared to catch Malkin on an area near his knee that was not protected by padding. The puck was redirected into the net for a goal that was awarded to Malkin, who immediately fell to the ice clutching his knee.
- Malkin could not put pressure on his right leg as he was being helped to the bench by two teammates.
- The 36-year-old’s right knee has twice been surgically repaired.
- Coach Mike Sullivan said the preliminary prognosis was positive and Malkin — who was seen after the game waking with an ice pack on his knee — will be checked again Friday.
Backstory
Malkin tore his MCL and ACL in February 2011, with the MCL requiring surgery, and missed the rest of that season. He tore his ACL and PCL in June 2021, with the ACL requiring surgery. His recovery from that injury forced him out of the opening two months last season.
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Malkin signed a four-year extension this past summer. He pronounced his knee “200 percent” upon returning to Pittsburgh for training camp in September.
The Penguins (18-8-4) won their seventh consecutive game Thursday and Malkin was credited with the winning goal on the play that injured him. — Rossi
Malkin’s impact this season
Malkin — who now has 10 goals and 21 assists on the season — is riding a seven-game point streak and has been the Penguins’ second-best forward this season behind only Crosby.
He’s been especially good, again, on the power play, which has been a strength for the Penguins in recent weeks. The Penguins run their power play through Malkin a majority of the time. — Rossi
Injuries piling up
The Penguins have been hit hard by injuries the last few days. Defenseman Jeff Petry is on LTIR with an upper-body injury. Winger Jason Zucker is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Zucker is a regular on the left side of the Penguins’ second line that Malkin centers. — Rossi
What they’re saying
Coach Sullivan on Malkin's status: "No update. We will see how he is tomorrow. Obviously, he got hit with that shot on the power play when he scored. Funny way to score, but a goal is a goal… I think the preliminary prognosis is positive, so that's a positive sign."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 16, 2022
Crosby on Malkin leaving the game after being hit with his shot: "You never like seeing that. He looked like he was in a lot of pain. We've done it [caught each other with pucks] a couple times over the years. You don't like doing that…
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) December 16, 2022
Required reading
(Photo: Sam Navarro / USA Today)
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