Evgeni Malkin did not participate in maintenance day practice before tomorrow’s game in Dallas. This is the line.
Forward Joona Koppanen is not listed, having officially been granted exemption this afternoon. Kopanen has no goals and one assist in 10 NHL games and should return to Wilkes-Barre in the near future.
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General manager Kyle Dubas said a few days ago that Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari are 7-10 days away from returning to the lineup, but both have been practicing in a regular capacity for some time and are in positions to eventually return. If both are unavailable, Malkin should be able to move onto the second line tomorrow – players with “maintenance” eligibility are typically able to play in the next game, while Boko Imama can slide back to the fourth line at any time if needed until Acciari is ready.
Malkin was able to catch up with his good friend Sergey Gonchar. After serving as coach of the Vancouver Canucks for the past few seasons, Gonchar decided to pursue family life in Dallas.
We’ll see if the shuffle on the top line means anything with Tommy Novak practicing on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust, or if it’s the result of moving Kevin Hayes back to center for a day in Malkin’s absence.
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Either way, the Penguins should be healthier and more physical in the near future.
