Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) looks on from the penalty box against the Washington Capitals during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Penguins' Evgeni Malkin out vs. Devils with injury

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Mar 18, 2021 2:16 PM ET

For the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be without star forward Evgeni Malkin.

Per the NHL's official website, Malkin will miss Thursday's matchup versus the New Jersey Devils due to the lower-body injury he suffered on Tuesday evening caused by a hit delivered by Boston Bruins defenseman Jarred Tinordi in the first period of Pittsburgh's 2-1 defeat:

"I'd rather not get into the detail of the evaluation process," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan explained about Malkin's status. "When we have definitive information, we'll update you."

As noted by ESPN stats, Malkin is third on the Penguins with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) and is one of only four Pittsburgh players to appear in all 29 contests this season before Thursday's action.

Also during Tuesday's encounter against Boston, Pittsburgh's Brandon Tanev was ejected for a similarly big hit. Following the game, Penguins captain and superstar Sidney Crosby lashed out at the officials.

"I hope as players we get some clarity on what's a good hit and what's not," Crosby said. "It's tough to really gauge when you're out there. I know it's fast, but right now, it's really hard to know what is, in fact, clean and what's not. And when you're out there playing, it's important to know that."

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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