Malkin, Murray return
Evgeni Malkin and Matt Murray return from injury in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA — Evgeni Malkin, who had missed five consecutive games with an upper-body injury, returned to the Penguins lineup Monday.
At the start of the game Monday night against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center, Malkin centered the second line, with Phil Kessel and newcomer Nick Bjugstad, who is good to go after an injury scare Saturday, on Malkin’s wings.
Malkin was injured in the win Jan. 30 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The struggling star center finished that game, perhaps his best of this calendar year, but was then sidelined for a week. He returned to practice Friday.
In his absence, the Penguins went 1-4. During their four-game losing streak entering Monday, they totaled eight goals and were shut out once.
“He’s a dynamic offensive player. He’s a threat most times when he goes over the boards, whether it’s 5-on-4 or even strength,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “So he just makes our team that much harder to play against. When he’s in the lineup, it creates matchup challenges for our opponents.”
With Malkin out, Bjugstad, who was acquired from Florida two days after Malkin got hurt, and Matt Cullen each got time centering the second line. Against the Flyers, the Penguins got their first look at Malkin and Bjugstad together, though that would mean someone must play their off wing.
That someone was Kessel. Sullivan said Kessel is “comfortable” at left wing, too, pointing out that he has done it “a handful of times over the last couple of years.” With Kessel struggling of late, Sullivan thought switching sides could be beneficial.
“There’s benefits to him playing that off side, especially coming out of our end zone,” he said. “When the puck comes around the wall, he has the ability to take that puck on his forehand … and make that next play.”
Murray starts
Matt Murray returned to the Penguins net in Philadelphia.
Murray had an upperbody injury in the 4-0 loss against the Carolina Hurricanes last week. He sat out Wednesday’s practice, then the Penguins called up Tristan Jarry on an emergency basis for the game Thursday against Florida.
Casey DeSmith started that 3-2 overtime road loss, then again two nights later at Tampa Bay, even though Murray was well enough to dress as the backup goalie Saturday.
Murray was 1-3 in his previous four starts, giving up 14 total goals.
Schultz not ready to return
Defenseman Justin Schultz didn’t play against the Flyers. Schultz wasa full participant for the morning skate and has now been practicing with the team for 12 days. But despite his presence on this three-game road trip, he is still not quite ready.
Schultz fractured his lower left leg during the season’s fourth game in October.
Forward Zach AstonReese appeared to be a fullgo at the morning skate, though he was still favoring his injured left hand a little.
Blueger the odd man out
With Malkin back, the Penguins scratched rookie Teddy Blueger, who has two goals, an assist and a plus-2 rating in six games since his promotion two weeks ago.
The Penguins started the game with a fourth line of Cullen, Garrett Wilson and Patric Hornqvist.