Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been labeled as a “game-time decision” for Thursday’s game against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG Paints Arena.
Coach Mike Sullivan declared Malkin’s status during an optional morning skate in Cranberry.
Scratched due to an undisclosed injury during Tuesday’s 4-3 home shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Malkin participated in the morning skate.
Malkin remained on the ice for approximately an hour along with defensemen Ryan Graves and Ryan Shea — each presumed healthy scratches — along with goaltender Tristan Jarry, who is scheduled to serve as the backup goaltender for Thursday’s contest. Additionally, coaches put Malkin through a fairly rigorous workout.
Penguins coaches are putting Evgeni Malkin through a bit of a workout: pic.twitter.com/xBG3Fs4QSz
— Seth Rorabaugh (@SethRorabaugh) January 9, 2025
That is typically a strong indicator that a player will not dress for a game.
In 41 games this season, Malkin has scored 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) while averaging 18:35 of ice time per contest.
Notes:
• Per Sullivan, goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to start. In 17 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 6-6-4 record, a 3.22 goals against average and an .888 save percentage.
Throughout his career, Nedeljkovic has played the Oilers in three contests and posted a 1-2-0 record, a 3.79 goals against average and .884 save percentage.
• Those who participated in the morning skate included:
Forwards — Anthony Beauvillier, Kevin Hayes, Blake Lizotte, Malkin, Matt Nieto, Jesse Puljujarvi
Defensemen — Graves, P.O Joseph, Owen Pickering, Shea
Goaltender - Jarry
• Injured Penguins forward Philip Tomasino worked out on the ice prior to the morning skate. He remains designated to injured reserve due to an undisclosed ailment.
• The Penguins enter the contest with a four-game losing streak (0-1-3).
• The Penguins have lost seven consecutive games against the Oilers. It is their longest active losing streak against any specific opponent.
• The Penguins’ last win against the Oilers was a 5-2 victory at Rogers Place on Dec. 20, 2019. Jarry made 26 saves on 28 shots in that win.
• Penguins forward Drew O’Connor has appeared in 199 career games.
• The Penguins are one of three teams that have yet to record a shutout this season. The Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals are the others.
• Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner is scheduled to start Thursday’s contest. In 27 games this season, Skinner has a 16-8-3 record, a 2.69 goals against average, a .902 save percentage and one shutout.
Throughout his career, Skinner has played the Penguins in three contests and has posted a 2-0-0 record, a 0.99 goals against average, a .961 save percentage and one shutout.
-Per the team’s Web site, the Oilers’ expected lines and pairings are:
93 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - 97 Connor McDavid - 28 Connor Brown
92 Vasily Podkolzin - 29 Leon Draisaitl - 33 Viktor Arvidsson
53 Jeff Skinner - 19 Adam Henrique - 18 Zach Hyman
42 Kasperi Kapanen - 13 Mattias Janmark - 90 Corey Perry
14 Mattias Ekholm - 2 Evan Bouchard
25 Darnell Nurse - 44 Joshua Brown
27 Brett Kulak - 49 Ty Emberson
• The Oilers enter the contest on a four-game winning streak.
