PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Out since the Carolina game March 22, forward Evgeni Malkin is available to return to the lineup against Detroit Tuesday night.
Malkin had missed with an upper-body injury and before that had five points in his previous four games. For the season he has 15 goals and 37 assists and is a plus 12 in 50 games.
While not being specific with the lineup, likely Malkin remains out at wing instead of center, where he played most of his career.
“I think he’s done a good job,” said Pens head coach Dan Muse. “He’s spent a little bit of time there on both wings. It’s been primarily on the right.”
“I think it’s something where he’s been doing it for a long time. There have been plenty of times (in his career) where he will end up not being the low forward in the D-zone, being that position where he is a winger. I think it’s been good.”
Malkin is two points from 1,400, which would be the 14th-fastest player in NHL history to reach that milestone.
Spezza’s father
Before we asked Muse questions Tuesday afternoon, the Pens head coach offered condolences from the entire organization to assistant general manager Jason Spezza and his family on the death of his father Monday.
“Getting to know Jason over this last year, he’s an incredible person from an incredible family,” Muse said. “We are all thinking of him at a time like this.”Pens veteran is two points from 1,400
