Malkin remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He did not take part on the Penguins morning skate which suggests that he’s not on the verge of returning. Monitor his status league up to Wednesday’s game vs. the Rangers.
The Penguins have a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, but Malkin will not be available. This is a tough blow for the Penguins, who also lost Eric Fehr on Tuesday, so they will need to recall a centre from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). Monitor Malkin’s status heading into next week.
Letang missed Wednesday’s practice, but will play on Thursday vs. the Flyers. Letang’s health has been a common question mark this season, but when he has been in the lineup he has produced at a high rate. Letang has 30 points (6G / 24A) in 35 games this season.
After missing Sunday’s game vs. the Hurricanes, Letang will play tonight in St. Louis. David Warsofsky (concussion) will come out of the lineup for Letang. He has six goals and 22 assists (28 points) in 34 games this season.
Letang’s presence on the ice for warmups is a good sign that he will play tonight, but we will not know for sure until about five minutes before puck-drop, when the official roster report is released.
Letang missed Sunday’s game with a wrist injury but he will be a game-time decision tonight in St. Louis. If Letang can’t play, Derrick Pouliot, who was recalled this morning, will play.
Hayes was a healthy scratch for the last two games, but will get back into the lineup on Tuesday. Alain Vigneault has not been impressed with the 23-year-olds game lately so he sat him for a couple of nights. The second-year forward had 45 points (17G / 28A) last year, but has just 17 points (6G / 11A) in 37 games this season—on pace for 37 points (13G / 24A). Maybe this time off will wake Hayes’ offensive game up and he can become fantasy relevant again.
Crosby suffered a lower-body injury on Saturday night and he will miss tonight’s game vs. the Blue Jackets. With Crosby out, Evegeni Malkin will be leaned on to play big minutes. Scott Wilson is expected make his season debut with Crosby out.
With Sidney Crosby likely unavailable for Tuesday’s game, the Penguins gave recalled Rust from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to serve as an extra forward. Rust has oe goal and three assists in 10 games with WBS this season. Unless someone in addition to Crosby doesn’t play, Rust isn’t expected to be in the lineup.
