Just as he did on Friday, Evgeni Malkin began the morning on Saturday with extended work with skills coach Ty Hennes before practice got underway.
He spent 43 minutes working with Hennes, to be exact. Working on drills like these:
When the formal practice got underway, though, Malkin didn't take part in the Penguins' line rushes. That's a new development after previously taking part in rushes on Friday, and calls into question his availability for Game 1 of the Penguins' first-round matchup with the Islanders, slated for Sunday at noon.
Without Malkin, the Penguins used these combinations, with Evan Rodrigues getting back into the regular rushes for the first time since he was injured:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Jared McCann-Jeff Carter-Kasperi Kapanen
Jason Zucker-Freddy Gaudreau-Evan Rodrigues
Zach Aston-Reese-Teddy Blueger-Brandon Tanev
It's notable that the Penguins shuffled the line combinations in Malkin's absence, rather than using Rodrigues or another player as a placeholder for Malkin, like we've seen in the past when a player misses practice with something minor and isn't expected to miss any games. Freddy Gaudreau moved over to center, and Jared McCann followed Jeff Carter up to the second line, bumping Jason Zucker down to the third.
"I feel comfortable," Carter said of the shuffled lines. "I've had my fair share of guys so far. Whatever happens here over the next little while, whatever the lines may be, I feel comfortable out there,"
Malkin didn't work with either of the power play units during the special teams work later in the practice, another new development, after he worked with the top unit in Friday's practice. McCann replaced Malkin on the top unit on Saturday. The second unit was Mike Matheson, John Marino, Zucker, Carter and Kasperi Kapanen.
Not working with the special teams also calls into question Malkin's status for Game 1.
When I asked Mike Sullivan if there is any change to Malkin's status, he said that everyone who skated today is a game-time decision for tomorrow.
When Sullivan was asked again, specifically if there is any concern regarding Malkin's availability for Sunday, Sullivan reiterated that everyone is a game-time decision.
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Casey DeSmith was absent from practice after leaving Friday's session 30 minutes in with a lower-body injury. Tristan Jarry and Max Lagace were the only two goaltenders to take part in practice.
Sullivan said after practice that DeSmith is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and said that it's related to the lower-body injury that kept him out of the end of the regular season.
• The defense pairings were the same:
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Mike Matheson-Cody Ceci
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
• Matheson is still using the full shield on his helmet instead of the cage, a change he made on Friday.

PENGUINS
Mike Matheson in Saturday's practice.