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Penguins reveal a "strange" injury update on Malkin and Letang, and it’s the last thing fans needed


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Daniel Lucente
January 30, 2026  (12:51)
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Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) talk against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center.
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang miss Penguins practice, and this injury update hits hard with the Rangers next.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins held both veterans out of practice. The team promised a clearer status update on Saturday.
That’s why it’s getting labeled "strange". Two pillars missing, with zero detail, right after a win, is the kind of fog that makes fans spiral.
Malkin played Thursday and chipped in an assist in the 6-2 win over Chicago. Letang logged 21:15, so this wasn’t a "he left early" situation.
Malkin’s season line sits at 13-28-41, and Pittsburgh needs that top-six drive. Letang is at 3-22-25 and still quarterbacks so much of the blue line.
That post was short and to the point, Malkin and Letang did not practice, update tomorrow. No "maintenance" hint, no upper-body label, nothing.
That’s why the "strange injury update for the Penguins on Friday" line landed. It matches the vibe, it’s not panic, it’s the uncertainty.
The timing also stings because Saturday is a big one at PPG Paints Arena. The Rangers are in town, and the Penguins are sitting at 27-14-11.

Evgeni Malkin uncertainty squeezes the Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins fans are loving the win streak, but a vague update like this makes everyone brace for the worst.
If Malkin can’t go, the middle of the ice changes fast. The Penguins lose that bully-puck possession that keeps the man advantage humming.
If Letang sits too, the minute-eaters get stretched. Erik Karlsson can carry a load, but the trickle-down to the second pair gets real.
This is also where roster math matters, because emergency recalls are never clean. One "day-to-day" can turn into juggling lines and cap hits.
Saturday’s update is the whole story now. If it’s just a rest day, everyone exhales, if not, the next few games get loud.
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Penguins reveal a "strange" injury update on Malkin and Letang, and it’s the last thing fans needed

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