Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin returned to practice Friday for the first time in almost a month. The forward, who was in a noncontact jersey, has not played since Dec. 4 because of an upper-body injury. He has 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 26 games this season. Malkin won’t travel for their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (Noon, ET; ABC, SN, TVAS). “No change in status,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said. “Today was noncontact, so it was just the first opportunity for him to, you know, be out there. But it’s a good step in the right direction.”