The Penguins really should consider shutting down Evgeni Malkin until after the Olympic break. It's clear his left shoulder is still bothering him, making him questionable for even this game.
Malkin missed practice Friday and didn't quite skate in full the previous day, instead doing drills in a corner away from the rest of the team. Even in warmups today, he was wincing and reaching for his shoulder after taking shots. As the game went on, he seemed to avoid putting his left hand on his stick, and he hunched over after a hit in the second period.
He clearly doesn't want to come out of the lineup. He's not shying away from contact either, rushing into a scrum in the third after Egor Chinakhov was getting pushed around.
The Penguins have three games left before the break, against the Senators, Islanders and Sabres. Holding Malkin out, even if not for all three of those games, might be for the best.
THE ASYLUM
The Penguins really should consider shutting down Evgeni Malkin until after the Olympic break. It's clear his left shoulder is still bothering him, making him questionable for even this game.
Malkin missed practice Friday and didn't quite skate in full the previous day, instead doing drills in a corner away from the rest of the team. Even in warmups today, he was wincing and reaching for his shoulder after taking shots. As the game went on, he seemed to avoid putting his left hand on his stick, and he hunched over after a hit in the second period.
He clearly doesn't want to come out of the lineup. He's not shying away from contact either, rushing into a scrum in the third after Egor Chinakhov was getting pushed around.
The Penguins have three games left before the break, against the Senators, Islanders and Sabres. Holding Malkin out, even if not for all three of those games, might be for the best.
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