WASHINGTON – Expecting Evgeni Malkin to start Sunday’s game the way he began practice on Saturday afternoon – on the fourth line – probably isn’t the way to go.
Expecting Malkin to play and contribute a great deal for the Penguins as they aim to grab a two-games-to-none advantage in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Capitals is a much, much different story.
Malkin was a full participant at Saturday’s practice at Capital One Arena. And although he’s technically considered a game-time decision for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon, all signs point to Malkin returning after a two-game absence because of a lower-body injury.
“I feel so much better,” Malkin said. “We’ll see what I feel [Saturday], overnight. I can’t say right now. I feel so much better.”
It looked like Penguins coach Mike Sullivan took a cautious approach with Malkin to start Saturday’s practice, having him participate in drills with Zach Aston-Reese and Tom Kuhnhackl as his linemates.
Asked whether that group was an option for him Sunday, Sullivan’s dry sense of humor won him some hearty laughs in the post-practice media room.
“Putting Geno on the fourth line?” Sullivan wondered aloud. “Probably not.”
No, that’s probably not how this is going to go down. It can’t. There’s too much at stake, and Washington is too good.
Plus, you have to figure the Capitals are going to be hacked off at how they frittered away Game 1: by allowing goals on three consecutive shifts by the Penguins top line, flipping a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 loss in less than five minutes. It was the third two-goal lead the Capitals have blown this postseason.
Which is why Sullivan, Malkin and everyone else expects that, if Malkin does play, he’ll only do so if he’s 100 percent and he’s ready to go full speed from the drop of the puck.
“If I’m ready to play, I’m ready to play,” Malkin said. “You play. You need to show what you can. You show you’re 100 percent. It’s not like the regular season and can play a slow first period and be better in the third. If I play, I’m ready first shift.”
As practice progressed, Malkin looked better and better, his skating stride fluid and fine, his shot looking the same as it’s always looked. Malkin did joke that he was gasping for air a few times.
“A little bit hard when I breathe,” joked Malkin, who also took all the reps with the No. 1 power play – another indication he’ll be good to go Sunday.
Playing, as opposed to watching, will be a welcomed change for Malkin, who wasn’t a fan of his time in the press box.
“It’s really hard,” Malkin said. “But I believe in this group. They’re all experienced. It’s tough to watch when they were down, 2-0. I believed. They scored one goal. Then a quick second. It’s unbelievable. Washington plays hard. This group is amazing guys.”
Having Malkin back will obviously have a significant effect on the Penguins.
Not only because he had 98 points and 42 goals during the regular season – fourth and tied for fourth league-wide – but also how Malkin’s presence effects the Penguins’ depth.
Without Malkin, Riley Sheahan had been centering the second line with Dominik Simon to his left and Phil Kessel to his right.
Sheahan has held his own, but having him bump down to the fourth line provides a clear offensive upgrade over Carter Rowney, who contributed just one assist and five shots on goal during his final 22 games of the regular season.
Welcoming Malkin back to the Penguins lineup could also go a long way toward getting Phil Kessel going.
In seven playoff games, Kessel has just one goal and five points, finishing with one or no shots on goal five times – a rarity for him.
“It’s nice to see [Malkin] back on the ice,” Patric Hornqvist said. “He’s a big part of this team. Hopefully he can go [Sunday]. If not, we just have to play the same way we did [in Game 1]. We have to play tight and try to cut down those odd-man rushes.”
Malkin was injured in the first period of the Penguins’ 4-2 loss to the Flyers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, when he got tangled up in the corner with Philadelphia’s Jori Lehtera.
Replays showed Malkin’s left leg bending awkwardly, although Malkin returned and finished the game. He has not played since and skated on his own a couple times before joining his teammates for Thursday’s morning skate ahead of Game 1 against the Capitals.
“When you feel something is wrong, you always hope it’s not bad,” Malkin said. “You hope it’s small. Sometimes you need time to recover. I try to do my best. I can’t play [Thursday] night. Maybe [Sunday].”
Malkin’s return could also be big given the opponent. Over the past two postseasons, Malkin has four goals and 13 points against the Capitals and has 19 points in 20 career postseason meetings against them.
“He’s a game-changer,” Conor Sheary said. “He’s able to take over a game individually. Not too many guys can do that. If we’re able to get him back, I think that will make us a lot better team.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: April 28, 2018, 6:10 p.m.
Updated: April 28, 2018, 7:14 p.m.