Penguins

Penguins Practice: Malkin Returns, Tanev With Taxi Squad

Published

3 years ago

April 23, 2021

Pittsburgh Penguins injured center Evgeni Malkin practiced with the team Friday wearing a non-contact white jersey, perhaps another step in his recovery from what is believed to be a knee injury.

Malkin, who skated in a no-contact capacity with the taxi squad Wednesday, has missed the past 18 games. He did not participate in line rushes Friday.

The team practiced at PPG Paints Arena to facilitate taking the annual team photo before the practice.

Bandon Tanev, who has been out the past nine games because of an undisclosed injury, skated in a red non-contact jersey with the taxi squad before the main practice. Coach Mike Sullivan said Tanev just started skating on his own Tuesday.

Tanev is thought to be out for the rest of the regular season because of an unspecified injury that might have been recurring. It remains to be seen if his progress this week might accelerate that timetable.

Also in the main practice in a white jersey was forward Frederick Gaudreau, who has missed the past five games because of an undisclosed injury. He also did not participate in line rushes.

With winger Kasperi Kapanen returning from injury Thursday, Malkin, Tanev and Gaudreau are the only injured players at the moment during a Penguins season that has been riddled with injuries.

There was a change among those who did take line rushes. Kapanen moved up to the third line, with Evan Rodrigues skating on the fourth line.

There are only a little more than two weeks left in the regular season, with nine games left to be played.