NHL
Evgeni Malkin Ruled Out Against Predators With Illness
Malkin took part in Pittsburgh’s optional morning skate, but the Penguins will be without him Saturday against Nashville.
Evgeni Malkin will not play for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Nashville Predators on Saturday because of an illness, NHL.com reported.
Malkin participated in Pittsburgh’s optional morning skate after missing practice Friday, but he remained unavailable for the game. The report did not provide a timetable for his return or a more specific description of the illness.
Pittsburgh also placed defenseman Samuel Girard on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Girard, who last played October 17, skated in a noncontact jersey Saturday. He has three assists in nine games this season.
The Penguins are already without forward Bryan Rust because of a lower-body injury. NHL.com reported that he will be reevaluated in six weeks.
The league’s projected lineup lists Ville Koivunen, Hendrix Lapierre and Nick Robertson together on Pittsburgh’s second line. Those are projected combinations, rather than confirmation of every in-game assignment. Avery Hayes is expected to make his season debut after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Penguins host Nashville at PPG Paints Arena at 5 p.m. MDT. Pittsburgh enters 4–6–1; the Predators are 3–3–3.
