- Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Penguins Evgeni Malkin has been out since March 14th with an lower-body injury. If he feels good this morning, he could be back in the lineup today.
“I feel good,” Malkin said. “It was a good, full practice. We’ll see tomorrow. There’s a good chance I’ll play.”
He practiced with Chris Kunitz and Blake Comeau yesterday. Kunitz has one goal in his last 25 games and no points in 10 games.
“Kuni doesn’t have confidence right now,” Malkin said. “Maybe I can help him a little bit, and he can help me.”
The Penguins are 3-7-1 without Malkin and have only scored 18 goals in that span. Patric Hornqvist might be able to return to the lineup as well.
“I feel way better,” he said. “It’s going to be a day-to-day decision from now on. It was nice to be out there with the boys.”
- Wayne Scanlan: Senators Andrew Hammond was limping out of the rink. “Not looking good.”
- Dean Brown: Senators Craig Anderson didn’t drop his stick once at practice, but he was constantly having to re-grip it. He is really trying to make it work.
- Lou Korac: Blues coach Ken Hitchcock confirms that Kevin Shattenkirk and Carl Gunnarson will return today.
- James Gordon: Senators Clarke MacArthur has passed his concussion baseline tests and can wear a tinted visor so that he can deal with concussion symptoms. Bruce Garrioch: Guessing that MacArthur travels with the team to Toronto and might be able to return.
- Jameson Olive: Panthers announce that forward Nick Bjugstad underwent back surgery and will be out the remainder of the season.
- Kevin Kurz: Sharks Mirco Mueller will be out for an unspecified time after blocking a shot with his left hand. He won’t play this weekend.
- George Sipple: Red Wings Jimmy Howard said his groin isn’t an issue, he just needs to start following the puck better.
- Brett Cyragalis: Islanders Lubomir Visnovsky said that he’s ready to return, but it’s up to the coaches as to when he gets back in.
- Michael Russo: The Wild activated Ryan Carter off the IR.
- Shelly Anderson: Penguins Steve Downie had a maintenance day yesterday. Christian Ehrhoff isn’t expected to skate before next week. Josh Yohe: Downie is expected to play.
- Ansar Khan: Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said that Riley Sheahan will be out “for a bit” with an upper-body injury. Not known if Pavel Datsyuk will be able to play today.
