Three days after joining the team in a non-contact capacity for a morning skate, Evgeni Malkin took part in his first practice with the team since he was injured on March 16.
Malkin still wore a no-contact jersey and didn't participate in any line rushes, but it was another step toward a return to the lineup.
Mike Sullivan said after practice that Malkin's status hasn't changed yet, and that he's "continuing to go through the process."
Malkin still has a few steps to go before being cleared to return to an actual game, but just having him back in a practice, albeit in a limited capacity, provides a spark for his teammates.
“He's a great player, he makes our team better,” Tristan Jarry said of Malkin. "Just having him back in the room is a boost of confidence for us, it shows that he’s coming back and he’s going to be back soon. I think that just gives our team that little bit of extra. It’s going to make our team a whole lot better when he’s back.”
“He’s a huge part of this team, obviously," John Marino said. "We're looking forward to having him back for sure. We’ll doing everything we can with him out of the lineup right now, but he's obviously going to help our team in a huge way when he comes back, and it’ll be great having him around the room too."
"I think it brings another level of enthusiasm," Sullivan said of Malkin getting closer. "Everyone is well aware of how important Geno is to our team and the impact he can have on a game. So the fact that he's practicing like he is with the group right now is suggestive that he's that much closer to returning to the lineup. I think guys are excited about that. When Geno's in our lineup, we're a better hockey team."
MORE FROM PRACTICE
• Freddy Gaudreau, who was injured on April 11 and is considered "week-to-week," also participated in practice for the first time in a non-contact capacity and didn't take line rushes. Gaudreau also stayed on the ice for an extended period of time after practice with Teddy Blueger.
• Brandon Tanev skated with the taxi squad before practice in a no-contact jersey and participated in parts of the taxi squad's scrimmage to finish their skate. Sullivan said that Tanev was "making progress."
• Goaltender Max Lagace joined the main group for practice but didn't take any reps in net until after the formal session ended.
• The team took the full team picture before practice, with the taxi squad players included. Marino was asked who took picture day the most seriously.
"I'd say Brandon Tanev," he said. "He's got one of the longest hairs on the team for sure, and he's pretty self-conscious about it, I'd say."
• The line combinations used in practice were the same ones the Penguins finished Thursday's game with, with Kasperi Kapanen bumped up to the third line and Evan Rodrigues going down to the fourth.
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Jared McCann-Jeff Carter-Jason Zucker
Zach Aston-Reese-Teddy Blueger-Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Sceviour-Mark Jankowski-Evan Rodrigues
Brian Dumoulin-Kris Letang
Mike Matheson-Cody Ceci
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
Mark Friedman-Chad Ruhwedel
