With the start of the postseason looming for the Pittsburgh Penguins, six regular members of the lineup have questions about their injury status. All six hit the ice Monday in Cranberry.
Forwards Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev and Evan Rodrigues and defenseman Mike Matheson all took part in an optional skate at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith took part in an on-ice session with Penguins goalie coach Mike Buckley before the full team skate, coach Mike Sullivan said during a video conference call with media after the team skate.
“All of those guys skated this morning,” Sullivan said, “which is encouraging.”
Mike Matheson is participating too. He missed the last four games of the regular season after being struck in the face by a puck.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) May 10, 2021
Here is a terrible photo of him wearing a cage: pic.twitter.com/dOlIlS2QZk
Malkin did not play the final 8 minutes, 48 seconds of regulation of Saturday’s regular-season finale win against the Buffalo Sabres. Sullivan had indicated that was out of an abundance of caution, though, after Malkin had returned last week from a 23-game absence related to a presumed right knee injury.
Matheson missed the final four games of the regular season because of an upper-body injury believed to be to his face (he wore a cage on his helmet Monday). Rodrigues missed the final five games because of a lower-body injury, and Tanev has not played since April 3 because of an upper-body ailment.
The four forwards recovering from injuries of various degrees joined nine other “skaters” and three goalies for the optional on-ice work Monday. Jarry (upper body) and DeSmith (lower body) were not among that group, but their injuries are not believed to be serious. They missed Saturday’s game, which the Penguins won 1-0 on the strength of a shutout by third-string goalie Maxime Lagace.
The Penguins are expected to have at least a week between games while some other teams across the NHL complete their regular seasons, some of which were delayed for stretches because of issues related to coronavirus.
General manager Ron Hextall said last month he expected Tanev to return for the playoffs. Last week, Sullivan termed Matheson’s status as “week-to-week” and Rodrgues as “day-to-day.”
