The Penguins did everything possible to keep injured center Evgeni Malkin away from contact for more than three weeks.

Now that his return to the lineup seems close -- yesterday, coach Michel Therrien broached the possibility that he could play as early as Wednesday, when New Jersey visits Mellon Arena -- they're eager to see how Malkin will react to absorbing some hits.

"That's something we're going to start doing [during practice]," Therrien said. "We'll talk to the doctor [today], and he'll let us know."

Malkin, wearing a form-fitting support on his dislocated left shoulder, was jostled a few times during game-situation drills in yesterday's practice, but did not receive a significant check. Still, it was the first time he has been bumped since being injured in a preseason game Sept. 20, and he came through unscathed.

"He seems fine," Therrien said.

Although the Penguins have not set a firm target date for Malkin's return -- the doctors and trainers will have the final say on that -- Therrien suggested that, barring a medical setback, he should be playing in a matter of days.

"I hope, less than a week," Therrien said. "We'll see. He's close. We're not talking about [tonight, when Carolina visits Mellon Arena at 7:30]. Is he going to be there Wednesday? We don't know. We'll let the doctor decide.

"One thing we all understand is that when he's back, he's going to be 100 percent. We're going to be cautious, because we understand that he's a quality player."

Hamilton out?

A mystery group called HHC Acquisition has terminated its agreement with Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, according to the Hamilton Spectator, which could help douse speculation that Jim Balsillie, who has an agreement to purchase the Penguins, wants to move the team there.

It's widely believed that Balsillie is the money man behind HHC, although he has never admitted it.

According to the Spectator, the group paid $50,000 in July to extend its exclusive rights for six months. Copps would need to be upgraded to meet NHL standards.

"We've always, at best, seen Hamilton as either a long shot or, more cynically, being used to leverage concessions elsewhere," Hamilton mayor Larry Di Ianni told the Spectator. "This confirms what I suspected all along. That is, Hamilton was never a serious contender for any NHL team with this group."

That Stanley Cup hangover

Mark Recchi was on Carolina's payroll only for a few months earlier this year.

Not enough time to figure out how to navigate the suburbs of Raleigh, perhaps, but long enough to forge some personal bonds that will endure for the rest of his life.

Winning a Stanley Cup will do that.

"When you win, you get pretty good ties," Recchi said. "We have something there forever."

Which the Hurricanes might feel is how long it has been since they've enjoyed success.

They entered last night's game at Atlanta as the only Eastern Conference team without a victory, recording a 0-3-1 record in their first four games.

Not surprisingly, the Hurricanes aren't pleased with their sluggish start and, when coach Peter Laviolette canceled a scheduled off day Sunday and put his club through a grueling practice, defenseman Bret Hedican and forward Kevyn Adams punctuated the workout by trading punches, one of which cut Adams over the left eye.

"It's one of those things where the tension's high right now," Hedican told the Raleigh News & Observer. "We're trying to get the train back on the track."

Recchi fully expects that to happen, even though he agreed that Carolina has "a little bit of a hangover, as a team" after winning the Cup.

"I think they'll be fine," he said.

Teen scene

When Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Kristopher Letang scored in the Penguins' 6-5 victory at Madison Square Garden Thursday, it marked the first time in nearly 24 years -- and just the ninth time in NHL history -- that a team got goals from three teenagers in a game.

It had not happened in an NHL game since Oct. 17, 1982, when Dave Andreychuk, Paul Cuy and Phil Housley scored for Buffalo, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Crosby and Letang are 19, Staal 18.