Happy New Year— let’s raise a toast to Evgeni Malkin returning!
Well, returning soon, at least. The Penguins’ first game since the COVID-19 pause, a Sunday matinee against the visiting San Jose Sharks, won’t be featuring Malkin’s return.
#Pens Malkin ruled himself out for Sunday vs San Jose. Says “Maybe 10 days” as far as projected timetable
— Josh Getzoff (@PensJG) December 29, 2021
But it looks like Malkin’s close to his return— and if he skates against the Blues in the Penguins’ following contest on Wednesday, January 5, it will be the first NHL action he has seen in 224 days, since Islanders bid him an unceremonious farewell on May 26 by booting the Penguins out of the 2021 postseason with a 5-3 Game 6 loss.