Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin hopes to return Saturday vs. Oilers

Watch as Evgeni Malkin is in some discomfort after trying to avoid Kris Letang and then getting hit into the boards awkwardly from Vladislav Gavrikov. Malkin did not return to the ice in the third period.

It looks like the injury-plagued Pittsburgh Penguins are about to get another healthy boost to the lineup with the pending return of Evgeni Malkin, Alex Galchenyuk, and Brian Dumoulin.

On Monday, Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan listed the three players as “game-time decisions” ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers.

In Malkin’s case, Saturday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers is the more likely date being circled for his possible return.

Malkin, who suffered a lower-body injury when he was hit awkwardly during Pittsburgh’s second game of the season, practised with the team on Monday while wearing a red non-contact sweater. His status was very much in the air in the days following his injury, with the team listing his absence as “longer-term.”

Malkin said he skated daily last week. The team has gone 6-4 in his absence.

The Penguins got Bryan Rust back into the lineup over the weekend, with the forward scoring in his season debut after starting the season on long-term injured reserve with a hand injury.

Centre Nick Bjugstad, who suffered a lower-body injury in the same game Malkin did, also returned Saturday against Dallas.

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