Malkin, Gaudreau full participants in optional skate, 'game-time decisions'

WASHINGTON -- Evgeni Malkin, Freddy Gaudreau, and Brandon Tanev were all participants in the Penguins' optional morning skate in Washington on Thursday before the Penguins' game against the Capitals.

Malkin and Gaudreau were both wearing regular jerseys, Tanev wore a gray non-contact jersey.

When I asked Mike Sullivan after the skate if any of those players will be available for tonight's game, he said "tonight's lineup will be a game-time decision. ... They're all making progress on the ice."

Since it was an optional morning skate with about half the roster turning out, there weren't regular line rushes. Malkin did work with his former linemates Kasperi Kapanen and Jason Zucker, but it's worth noting that Jeff Carter didn't take the optional skate.

Gaudreau did work with Colton Sceviour and Sam Lafferty (Evan Rodrigues didn't take the optional skate), which is notable because the usual fourth-line center, Mark Jankowski, did take the optional skate.

Usually, the players who stay on the ice well after the skate ends to work with Ty Hennes are the players who aren't playing that night -- injured players, taxi squad guys, or any other extra players.

Gaudreau left the ice around the time that the rest of the players who are expected to play tonight left the ice. The center who he would presumably be replacing, Jankowski, stayed out late with the taxi squad guys, as did Malkin and Tanev, perhaps an indication that Gaudreau is ready to return tonight and Malkin is not.

Even if Malkin and Tanev aren't quite ready to return to the lineup, their compete level is still at a game-ready level. The two were bickering on the ice throughout the morning skate, yelling at each other about who may have gotten a drill wrong, or debating what the score is.

MORE FROM THE SKATE

• Tristan Jarry will start.

• It's Jarry's birthday. Mike Sullivan was asked a question that began with pointing out that Jarry's birthday is "tonight," then asked if Sullivan himself has any special memories of his own birthday games.

"I was unaware that this was Tristan's birthday," Sullivan smiled. "And usually, birthdays last all day. But I can't recall anything off the top of my head that I've been a part of during my birthday."

• Associate head equipment manager Jon Taglianetti came out on the ice in skates near the end of the session and took some shots. Decent shot, but his skating could use some work if he's going to stick at this level. A decent depth option if no skating is involved. 

• Vitek Vanacek will start for Washington. Alex Ovechkin is out and John Carlson is a game-time decision. Justin Schultz will be available to play.