ANAHEIM, Calif. -- It's official: Evgeni Malkin will make his 2021-22 debut when the Penguins face the Ducks at Honda Center Tuesday night.
The Penguins, though, will be missing two other forwards in that game, as Zach Aston-Reese and Danton Heinen tested positive for COVID-19 today.
Mike Sullivan said Aston-Reese, who missed time earlier this season because of coronavirus, is not showing symptoms, but Heinen is.
They join fellow wingers Bryan Rust and Brock McGinn and goalie Casey DeSmith in the NHL's COVID protocol.
With Malkin, who missed the first 34 games in 2021-22 while recovering from offseason knee surgery, in the lineup, the Penguins will be able to dress 12 forwards after having just 11 for their 3-2 loss in Dallas Saturday.
Sullivan said that Rust, who has what he described as "mild symptoms," and McGinn, who is asymptomatic, might be able to rejoin the lineup later this week if they test out of the protocol.
Not surprisingly, he seems bit exasperated by the steady stream of positive tests the Penguins have recorded lately.
"We've tried to do everything within our power to mitigate the risk," Sullivan said after the Penguins' optional game-day skate. "I just think it's the world we're living in. It just seems like this is the new normal. Every day I come in to the rink and we're holding our breath that we can get through those tests in the morning and (athletic trainer Chris Stewart) comes in and says, 'We're all good.'
"Nothing at this point really catches us by surprise. We've tried to prepare for it in every way that we can. It's not an easy thing to do."
Malkin is expected to skate between Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen on the second line against Anaheim, and Sullivan suggested that he believes Malkin could have an instant impact, even if he likely will need a little time to elevate his game to its customary level.
"He's practiced for quite a while," Sullivan said. "I think he looks really strong. He's in great shape. He's skating really well. He's such a talented guy. He's the type of player who has the ability to have an impact immediately, and I'm sure he will in this game.
"It will take him time to capture his very best game -- he has missed a fair amount of time -- so we have an understanding of that. We're going to try to put him in positions where he can play to his strengths, but we believe he'll have an immediate impact."
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Tristan Jarry will start in goal against the Ducks.
• Jason Zucker, who will miss his fifth consecutive game because of an unspecified lower-body injury, took part in the team's optional game-day skate, wearing a no-contact jersey. Sullivan said he also worked out on the ice after the team practiced Monday. Zucker, who previously had worked out on the ice with skills coach Ty Hennes, is listed as "week-to-week" and no target date for his return to the lineup has been announced.
• The other participants in the skate were Teddy Blueger, Dominik Simon, Radim Zohorna, Anthony Angello, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson, Mark Friedman, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Chad Ruhwedel, Juuso Riikola, Louis Domingue, Malkin and Jarry.
• Because the skate was optional, there were no personnel combinations of consequence.