The Penguins could be getting a big boost ahead of their pivotal game against the New York Islanders that has heavy playoff implications.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who each missed Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars with injuries, returned to practice yesterday and Crosby will be traveling with the team for tonight’s game. Malkin’s status to travel is unknown.
Both players were full participants in practice and were in their usual spots in the lineup, but it’s unclear whether or not either
are expected to play against the Islanders.
“Obviously, it’s very encouraging,” Erik Karlsson said. “Whether they play or not, I don’t know. They’re out there grinding away and trying to keep up the speed and staying in it for when they are ready to return.”
Crosby returned from his injury suffered during the Olympics and played five games for the Penguins before leaving the team’s game against Ottawa last week with a lower-body injury, missing Saturday’s game against Dallas.
Malkin, meanwhile, has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury.
Heading into tonight’s game, the Penguins sit in third place in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division and trail the second-place Islanders by one point.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are tied with the Penguins with 88 points and sit in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.
According to MoneyPuck, the Penguins have a 70.7% chance of making the playoffs and with just nine games remaining in the regular season, a win would be a big boost to those chances.
MoneyPuck has the Penguins’ playoff chance jump to 83.3% with a regulation win. A regulation loss would have the Penguins’ chances fall to 57%.
