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Dan Muse updates Evgeni Malkin's status and names his starting goalie
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin’s status looms for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kris Letang is out, and Stuart Skinner gets the crease with no margin.
Pittsburgh hosts the New York Rangers on Saturday riding a five-game heater and sitting 27-14-11.
Head coach Dan Muse flagged Malkin as a game-time decision, and that alone changes the feel of the top-nine.
NHL lineup projections have Kevin Hayes sliding into Malkin’s spot, which is the clearest hint yet this might be a sit.
That is a big swing, because Malkin has been driving play lately and even picked up an assist in Thursday’s 6-2 win over Chicago.
Muse also confirmed Skinner is "on the hill," so the crease is settled even if the forward group is not.
The bigger punch is on the blue line, where Muse noted Letang’s foot issue is a different problem than what cost him two games last week.
The official update now is blunt: Letang has a fractured foot, landed on injured reserve, and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
He leaves a real hole, because he has 3-22-25 in 50 games and still eats tough minutes.
With Letang out, Connor Clifton draws in and the pairs get reshuffled behind Erik Karlsson.
Kris Letang loss tests Pittsburgh Penguins structure
Penguins fans can feel the nerves here, because this is the kind of injury that turns one bad night into a messy week.
The exits will matter most, since Letang is usually the calm first touch when the Rangers send pressure.
Skinner can steady things if the slot stays clean, but the team has to keep rebounds and broken plays to the outside.
If Malkin can’t go, the man advantage also loses one of its best one-touch threats, and the margin tightens fast before Wednesday’s roster freeze.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Kris Letang’s "strange" injury takes a darker turn for the Penguins
Kris Letang’s "strange" injury takes a darker turn for the Penguins
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 31|105 ANSWERS Dan Muse updates Evgeni Malkin's status and names his starting goalie Do you believe Evgeni Malkin will play if he is a game-time decision? | ||
| Yes | 97 | 92.4 % |
| No | 8 | 7.6 % |
| List of polls | ||