Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin enters NHL's protocols for covid-19
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been placed into the NHL’s protocols for covid-19. This is the first time this season he has entered the protocols.
After recovering from offseason surgery to his right knee, Malkin made his season debut Jan. 11. In 12 games, he has 13 points (five goals, eight assists).
With Malkin sidelined, the team recalled forwards Michael Chaput and Valtteri Puustinen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).
This is Chaput’s second recall this season, having briefly surfacing on the NHL roster last week and serving as a healthy scratch for one game Feb. 1. The 29-year-old Chaput has appeared in 25 games this season and scored 12 points (three goals, nine assists). Over parts of eight NHL seasons, he has played in 182 games and scored 22 points (six goals, six assists).
Puustinen has been recalled to the NHL roster for the first time in his career. A seventh-round draft pick (No. 203 overall) in 2019, the native of Finland is in the midst of his first season in North America. In 47 AHL games, the 22-year-old is Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s leading scorer with 27 points (13 goals, 14 assists).
Having enjoyed a five-day respite for the All-Star break, the Penguins are scheduled to resume practicing in Boston at 4 p.m. Monday in advance of a road game against the Bruins on Tuesday.
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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