Penguins Practice: Guess Who’s Back? Koivunen Gets Big Promotion

DALLAS — The Pittsburgh Penguins seemed to get a little bit of good news Friday at practice at American Airlines Center.

After participating in the optional morning skate Thursday, Evgeni Malkin was a full participant at practice, even barking at his teammates in jest after the black jerseys lost a competitive drill to the yellow jerseys (usually the bottom six forward and third-pair defensemen).

UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan confirmed Malkin was a full participant and would be a game time decision Saturday. Based on the line combinations, it certainly appears that Malkin will play.

The Penguins lost in overtime to the St. Louis Blues Thursday, 5-4 at Enterprise Center.

Malkin has been out for the last 12 days, last playing on March 23 against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena.

This season, the Penguins’ stalwart has slipped this season. His production is well off career norms due to a myriad of factors, from age to unproductive linemates. He has 46 points, including 15 goals, in 62 games. His string of 15 seasons with at least a point per game will end unless he miraculously scores 22 points in the next six games.

Ville Koivunen

The Penguins rookie has played a pair of outstanding games to begin his NHL career, including assisting on the last-second game-tying goal Thursday night.

Friday, Koivunen, 21, was elevated to the Penguins top power play unit with Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Matt Grzelcyk.

Was Koivunen a little starstruck? No. Or, if he was, he didn’t show it. Koivunen filled the net-front role and promptly scored a pair of goals in succession on the first two opportunities against goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

The Penguins acquired Koivunen as part of the return in the Jake Guentzel trade last March.

Side note, Koivunen’s first name is pronounced, Vill-A, not the typical North American pronunciation, Vill-E.

Penguiuns Lines

Rutger McGroaty-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Rickard Rakell-Evgeni Malkin-Ville Koivunen

Connor Dewar-Kevin Hayes-Philip Tomasino

Danton Heinen-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Matt Grzelcyk-Kris Letang

Conor Timmins-Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves/Vladislav Kolyachonok-Ryan Shea

Pittsburgh Hockey Now will update the story following practice, after Penguins coach Mike Sullivan addresses the media.