Pittsburgh Penguins Deal with Possible Setback Involving Star Forward

Practice began Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex without Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin on the ice.

The Pittsburgh Penguins desperately needed to win last night in their home game against the Anaheim Ducks. Sidney Crosby's two goals in a 2-1 overtime victory helped them break their losing streak after they had lost their last six games.

Crosby was buzzing all night and skated the second most shifts (27), behind Kris Letang (28), in addition to being one of three skaters with six shots, along with Rickard Rakell and Evgeni Malkin.

Regretfully, there have been a lot of inquiries this morning regarding Evgeni Malkin's condition. All expected players hit the ice today at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, expect star forward Evgeni Malkin was missing. Malkin's absence was not immediately explained.

With 14 points, Malkin is the Penguins' top scorer and points leader so far this season. After switching to left wing on the top line with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell, he has appeared to be flying around the ice in the last two games. Thursday's 2-1 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at home, he played 21:53 of the game.

Evgeni Malkin has been one of the Penguins' most impressive players right from the start. Only three players have more multipoint games than Malkin, who has attempted five this season (Kaprizov [MIN] 7; Stone [VGK] 6; MacKinnon [COL] 6). Malkin is tied for seventh place in the NHL with 10 of his 14 points coming at even strength. Malkin is essential to the Penguins' success if they hope to advance this season and win more games.

At practice, Anthony Beauvillier skated alongside Crosby and Rakell while Malkin was out. On Saturday, the Penguins will host the Montreal Canadiens once more.

According to Mike Sullivan, today was Evgeni Malkin's maintenance day.

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