CRANBERRY \u2014 Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin was a full participant at Penguins practice Tuesday, and it looks like all systems are go. <\/p>\n
Malkin had the black full-contact jersey and participated in all of the drills, including a two-on-two scrimmage. The practice was a recovery day, and the staff kept many of the lineup regulars off the ice, so there was some question regarding Malkin\u2019s status. However, coach Dan Muse<\/a> confirmed Malkin was a full participant.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s it was a good step in the right direction, having him out there full-go practice,\u201d said Muse. \u201cHe looked good. We\u2019ve got another practice day tomorrow, and so (they) just got off (the ice). And so we\u2019ll continue to have conversations. But it was a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n Malkin, 39, last played when the Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3, a span of 14 games. Malkin had three points, including a pair of goals in the win. The following day, he missed practice at a suburban Dallas facility with what Muse termed a \u201cmaintenance day.\u201d <\/p>\n A few days later, the Penguins placed Malkin on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. <\/p>\n Without reservation, Malkin broke protocol and explained what happened. He was fine after the game, but the problem emerged the following morning. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s crazy, because I didn\u2019t feel any pain after the game. But the next morning I woke up and like, my upper body, I can\u2019t move my shoulder\u2013like, it\u2019s crazy. (Recovery) was slow every day. Day by day \u2026 I couldn\u2019t move my arm. It was tough,\u201d Malkin said. \u201cI did my best. I worked out in recovery every day, but it\u2019s not easy. It was a weird injury, but not like crazy (bad). It\u2019s small things, but it\u2019s annoying. Every day was pain.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last couple of weeks, I did lots of stuff, but probably the last three, four days, I feel so much better.\u201d<\/p>\n Malkin had a fabulous start to the season, notching 29 points, with eight goals in 26 games.<\/p>\n The Penguins will have to make a roster move when they activate Malkin. One player will go on waivers or return to the Wilkes-Barre\/Scranton Penguins. Wingers Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty<\/a> would be the easy candidates to return to WBS.<\/p>\n However, for those who also wondered if Malkin might shift to the wing as Tommy Novak and Ben Kindel have been regulars in the middle, Malkin opened the possibility before essentially shutting it down in his own humorous way.<\/p>\n \u201cI can move to defense or goal if the coach wants it. Like, I don\u2019t care, I just want to play, you know? But it\u2019s not easy,\u201d said Malkin. \u201cI mean, I love playing center. It\u2019s my position. I feel like a couple of times the coach tried using me at wing, but I always moved back to center because you play all your life, you play the same position. Right now, it is a little bit tough to change your mind, change everything. <\/p>\n \u201cBut again, if the coach wants it, if I play a couple of games, I\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n Malkin said he expects to return this week. The Penguins host the New Jersey Devils Thursday and the Calgary Flames Saturday before traveling to Boston Sunday. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTags: Evgeni Malkin<\/a> penguins injuries<\/a> Penguins news<\/a> Pittsburgh Penguins<\/a> <\/p>\n