Penguins News: Malkin Has Maintenance Day; Acciari Has Concussion

The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced Thursday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex without two of their centers – Evgeni Malkin and Noel Acciari.

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said afterward that Malkin, who played in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Winnipeg, was given a maintenance day.

Acciari, who normally centers the fourth line, left Tuesday’s game against Winnipeg after taking a high hit by Brenden Dillon, who received a match penalty and subsequently a three-game suspension.

Predicting a timeline for someone with a concussion is difficult, but Sullivan indicated that at the least, Acciari will not travel with the Penguins on their two-game road trip to play Friday at Minnesota and Saturday at Winnipeg in a rematch of Tuesday’s game.

Malkin, who ranks third on the team with 16 goals and 40 points, has not missed a game this season.

Acciari, who has three goals and four points in 39 games, normally mans the middle on the Penguins’ fourth line and is one of its main penalty killers. Sullivan said the Penguins are still contemplating how they will configure things without Acciari.