WASHINGTON -- Evgeni Malkin won't be playing on the fourth line today. Turns out he won't be playing at all.
Mike Sullivan ruled Malkin out for today's Game 2 against the Capitals. Malkin did not suffer a setback, according to the coach, who said that it's "part of the process." Malkin could still return for Tuesday's Game 3 at PPG Paints Arena, Sullivan said.
It's the third straight game that the NHL's fourth-leading scorer will miss with a lower body injury sustained in Game 5 of the Penguins' first-round series against Philadelphia. Sullivan said that his team, which has won its previous two games without Malkin, can overcome his absence again. Malkin has five points -- three goals -- in five playoff games this spring.
"We're a better team with Geno in the lineup, I think that's an obvious statement," Sullivan said. "But, having said that, I don't think our team looks for any sort of excuses. We try to rally around one another and it's a next-man-up attitude and we have capable people in our lineup. It provides opportunities for others to play significant roles and they want to take advantage of those opportunities. That's how our players look at it. That's certainly how our team looks at it. We're going to go out today and put our very best lineup at our disposal today and we're going to try and win."
The Penguins power play has gone 0-for-3 without Malkin, including 0-for-2 in Game 1 against the Capitals.
"The last game we didn't really get much of an opportunity, it was limited time so it's hard to evaluate whether or not we're able to have success with or without him," Sullivan said. "I think we have capable guys. The people that we have are very capable at being successful."
With Malkin out again, the Penguins are likely to keep the same lineup with Riley Sheahan centering the second line between Dominik Simon and Phil Kessel. That line, Simon in particular, missed three 'grade-A' chances in Game 1. Jake Guentzel has been manning Malkin's spot on the top power play unit.
• Carl Hagelin, injured in Game 6 of the Flyers series, will also miss Sunday afternoon's game. Simon has been skating in his spot as the second-line left wing. Sullivan was asked to clarify the nature of Hagelin's injury and whether the Swede had suffered a concussion on a hit from Claude Giroux. Sullivan reiterated that it was an "upper body injury."