Pens in good position as Malkin nears return

Penguins centre Evgeni Malkin practised Saturday and is on the verge of returning to the lineup after missing the past two games with an apparent leg injury.

Coach Mike Sullivan called Malkin a game-time decision, though signs are pointing to the Russian star playing Sunday at Washington (3 p.m. EDT, NBC).

“If I’m playing, I’m ready to play,” Malkin said.

“If you play, you need to show you can, you show you’re 100 per cent. It’s not like the regular season. You can’t play slow the first period and be better in third. If I play, if I’m ready, I’m ready first shift.” Back-to-back defending champion Pittsburgh roared back from a two-goal, third-period deficit to beat the Washington Capitals in Game 1 on Thursday.

Malkin had three goals and two assists in five games before being injured against Philadelphia.

It’s impossible to overstate Malkin’s value to the Penguins. Top-line winger Jake Guentzel called Malkin’s potential return a “game-changer,” restoring one of their most dangerous options on the power play and at even strength after a season in which the 31-year-old forward put up 98 points.

Malkin skated on the fourth line between rookie Zack Aston-Reese and Tom Kuhnhackl at practice and on the first power-play unit. If he plays, it wouldn’t be in a limited role.

“Putting Geno on the fourth line? Probably not,” Sullivan said.

“We’ll try to put him in a position where he can play to his strengths, be successful as an individual and help our team win.”