Penguins to have Evgeni Malkin for Game 3 vs. Islanders?

Pittsburgh Penguins star forward Evgeni Malkin missed over a month of regular-season action this spring with a lower-body injury and was a spectator for the opening two games of the first-round playoff series versus the New York Islanders due to an undisclosed physical setback. 

With that series tied at one game apiece, it appears Malkin will be ready to go when the Penguins attempt to notch a win in Long Island on Thursday night. 

According to Mike DeFabo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Malkin was a full participant in Thursday’s morning skate activities and is on track to return to the lineup. The 34-year-old worked as the second-line center and was also part of the top power-play unit.

Malkin appeared to injure his knee playing against the Boston Bruins on March 16 and only returned May 3 for the final four regular-season contests. He is officially a game-time decision for Thursday's pivotal Game 3. 

"The three-headed monster (Malkin, Sidney Crosby and Jeff Carter) that they have when Malkin plays, at center ice, they're pretty loaded," Islanders coach Barry Trotz told reporters, per Wes Crosby of the NHL website. "You're going to have two Hall of Famers and one that's pretty close."