CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The most important storyline of the Penguins' impending two-game series against Washington is also the most obvious.
With just one point separating the first-place Capitals and the Penguins, the East Division championship could be all but formally claimed before the weekend is over, since only a handful of regular-season games remain.
Especially if either team manages to win both games, the first of which will be Thursday at 7:08 p.m. at Capital One Arena, in regulation.
But there is an intriguing wrinkle in the plot that involves two of the most prominent Russian players in NHL history.
Washington left winger Alex Ovechkin, the foremost goal-scorer of his generation, has missed the past two games because of an unspecified lower-body injury and did not participate in an optional practice Wednesday.
The Capitals, predictably, haven't said whether Ovechkin will be in uniform Thursday.
Perhaps they really don't know yet. Or maybe, like most NHL teams, they're divulging as little injury information as possible.
Mike Sullivan is keenly aware of the impact Ovechkin can have -- "He's one of the best goal-scorers of all time," Sullivan said -- and added the Penguins will prepare to face the Capitals both with and without him.
Figuring out when Evgeni Malkin, who has missed the past 21 games because of an unspecified lower-body injury, will play again is no easier.
No one has ruled out Thursday, but neither has anyone suggested that it is likely he will play then.
"I'm very excited for him to come back," regular linemate Kasperi Kapanen said. "Hopefully, it's soon."
Malkin participated in practice Wednesday, but was the only player wearing a white jersey, which seemed to suggest that he was not to be involved in contact.
He also did not skate on one of the top four lines during drills, skating in a patchwork group with Mark Jankowski and Sam Lafferty.
But when the workout's focus shifted to special-teams play, Malkin took several reps with the No. 2 power play.
That wasn't necessarily significant, but as the practice was winding down, Malkin got in a few reps with the top unit, bumping Jared McCann from it.
Sullivan said later that Malkin actually had been cleared for contact -- there wasn't much of that for anyone on this day -- and declined to say whether Malkin will reclaim his spot on the top power play when he rejoins the lineup, regardless of when that happens.
That's an issue of interest because McCann has scored a team-leading seven man-advantage goals, including six in the past 17 games, and fit in nicely on the No. 1 unit.
"We'll make that decision (about who to use on the top unit) when the time comes," Sullivan said. "But right now, we like the way the power play is operating. They've done a real good job for us. (Tuesday) night is a perfect example. They didn't score, but they generated a fair amount of chances. They helped us gain momentum. They're making a positive impact on the game, and that's encouraging, from our standpoint. When (Malkin) does come back into our lineup, obviously, it gives us more options to do different things with the groups that we have."
Sullivan said that Malkin will accompany the Penguins on the four-game trip that begins Thursday, as will injured winger Brandon Tanev.
Regardless of who is in either lineup, these next two games figure to have an intensity that matches their impact.
Although the Penguins lead the season series, 4-2, two of those victories came in overtime and another in a shootout, so they hardly have been dominant.
The teams have combined to win six Stanley Cups -- five of those belong to the Penguins -- and every time, the championship-winning team has eliminated the other en route to its title.
And while the rivalry hits a rolling boil during the playoffs, it simmers during the regular season, as well.
"We obviously have a lot of respect for that team," Sullivan said. "They're a good team. They have a lot of good players. They've been a good team for a number of years."
That won't change, whether or not Ovechkin is in uniform.
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Frederick Gaudreau, who has been an effective and versatile bottom-six forward, was a full participant in practice and replaced Jankowski in the middle of the fourth line, which had Colton Sceviour and Evan Rodrigues on the wings. Barring a setback, he seems likely to be in uniform Thursday. "When he's been in the lineup, he's made a positive impact on the games," Sullivan said.
• Tanev did not participate in the workout, but Sullivan said he skated before practice.
• Here are the practice personnel combinations:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
McCann-Carter-Kapanen
Aston-Reese-Blueger-Zucker
Sceviour-Gaudreau-Rodrigues
Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Ceci
Pettersson-Marino
