Penguins forwards Evgeni Malkin, Blake Lizotte placed on injured reserve

Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Blake Lizotte and Evgeni Malkin have been placed on injured reserve due to undisclosed ailments. Per a social media posting by the team, both players are considered “week-to-week.”

In corresponding transactions, forwards Danton Heinen and Sam Poulin were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Lizotte is one of nine players who have played in all 27 of the team’s games this season. Typically stationed as center of the fourth line and on the penalty kill, Lizotte has scored five points (three goals, two assists) while averaging 13:57 of ice time per contest.

Malkin’s ailment led to him being scratched on Sunday during a 3-2 road shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. He is the team’s second-leading scorer with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 26 games. Predominantly deployed as center of the second line, Malkin has averaged 17:30 of ice time per contest.

Heinen has split the season between the AHL and NHL levels. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he has usually operated as a top-six center. In 12 AHL games, he has 18 points (six goals, 12 assists).

While with the NHL club, Heinen has primarily been used as a bottom-six winger. In nine NHL games, he has one assist and has clocked an average of 12:15 of ice time per contest.

Poulin is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s top scorer with 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) while largely operating as a left wing on the top-two lines.

In two NHL contests, Poulin has primarily skated on the left wing of the third line and has no points while averaging 13:49 of ice time per contest.