Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will miss his third consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury as his team hosts the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Malkin’s status approximately two hours before the opening faceoff.
Typically deployed as the second-line center, Malkin has appeared in 62 games this season and has posted 46 points (16 goals, 31 assists) while averaging 17:54 of ice time per contest.
Various ailments have caused Malkin to miss 12 games this season.
Earlier in the day, Malkin and defenseman P.O Joseph worked out on the ice. Joseph is current designated to injured reserve and has missed the past 12 games due to an undisclosed malady.
Notes:
• Penguins forward Tommy Novak will miss his ninth consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury.
• Per Sullivan, goaltender Tristan Jarry will start Sunday’s game. In 30 games this season, Jarry has a 12-11-5 record, a 3.33 goals against average and an .887 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Jarry has faced the Senators in eight contests and has posted a 3-2-2 record, a 2.43 goals against average and a .922 save percentage.
• Penguins forward Ville Koivunen is expected to make his NHL debut after being recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Friday. In 62 AHL games this season, Koivunen has scored 55 points (21 goals, 34 assists).
• The Penguins have lost six consecutive games against the Senators (0-3-3). That is their longest active losing streak against any one opponent.
• Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson has 199 career goals.
• Penguins forward Bryan Rust has 198 career goals.
• The Senators are expected to start goaltender Anton Forsberg. In 25 games this season, Forsberg has a 9-11-1 record, a 2.75 goals against average, an .897 save percentage and two shutouts.
• The Senators recalled forward Angus Crookshank from Belleville of the AHL.
