CRANBERRY, Pa. -- It seemed only fitting that, after all that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been through -- after all of the shared triumphs and all the traumas -- they would team up on one of the signature moments of Crosby's career.
That came when Malkin got the only assist on Crosby's 500th NHL goal, which he scored against the Flyers last Tuesday.
No surprise there. After all, Malkin has set up 109 of Crosby's goals, the most of any player.
That's probably why Malkin suggested after practice Wednesday that he'd like to have Crosby reciprocate.
"I'm glad to give him an assist," Malkin said. "It's a great memory for me, for sure. I hope some day he'll give me an assist on my 500th goal."
If so, it won't happen for a while, because Malkin still is 70 shy of that milestone.
He still has 30 games left this season to whittle away at that total, and made it clear that he hopes to spend at least a few more of those with Jeff Carter and Danton Heinen on his wings.
"I think we're pretty good," Malkin said, adding that he hopes the line remains intact so "we understand each other more and the chemistry is better. I hope we help the team to win."
There's no lack of familiarity with other members of the No. 1 power play, but it has sputtered of late and allowed a shorthanded goal in Toronto last Thursday.
Before that, it had rebounded from a poor start to the season -- the knee surgery that sidelined Malkin contributed to its struggle -- and Malkin noted that getting it back on track was one of the Penguins' primary objectives during the past two practices.
"The last couple of games, the power play, we've not played (well)," he said. "The last two days, we've tried to fix what we do."
Malkin, who rejoined the lineup Jan. 11, had hoped to surge after the NHL all-star break, but missed the first two games following it after he contracted Covid-19.
He said he was "sick for a couple of days," but that he no longer is dealing with any physical issues.
"Now, I feel great," he said. "My body is very good right now."
MORE FROM THE PRACTICE
• Zach Aston-Reese, who had been given a "maintenance day" Tuesday, was a full participant in the workout.
• Mike Sullivan said assistant coach Todd Reirden, who is recovering from knee surgery, is participating with the rest of the staff via Zoom calls and is expected to resume working on-site in the "very near future," although he won't be going onto the ice.
• Malkin suggested that Crosby's linemates, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust, "will be, maybe, (in the) Hall of Fame" when their careers are over. "These two guys are amazing," he said. "They play better and better every year, and every game. ... I hope they have an amazing career."
• The Penguins recalled forward Kasper Bjorkqvist from Wilkes-Barre. He arrived in time to participate in the practice.
• Sullivan praised the work of Matt Cullen, who is on the player-development staff but has been filling in for Reirden. "He just has a great demeanor about him," Sullivan said. "He's a very cerebral hockey guy. He was a cerebral player himself. He has a wealth of experience. Our players have so much respect for (Cullen) and his career and what he accomplished as a player."
• Personnel combinations:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Jeff Carter-Evgeni Malkin-Danton Heinen
Brock McGinn-Evan Rodrigues-Kasperi Kapanen
Zach Aston-Reese-Brian Boyle-Dominik Simon
Extras: Blueger, Bjorkqvist
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
Mike Matheson-Chad Ruhwedel
No. 1 power play: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Guentzel, Rust
No. 2 power play: Carter, Heinen, Marino, Kapanen, Rodrigues
