Pittsburgh Penguins’ Injury Concerns Ahead of Olympic Break
The upcoming Olympic break presents a mixed bag for the Pittsburgh Penguins, particularly concerning the health of several key players. Notably, Evgeni Malkin raised alarms after experiencing discomfort during a recent game. Following a seemingly minor shoulder tap from Anthony Mantha during Sunday’s face-off against the Washington Capitals, Malkin was seen grimacing on the bench.
Penguins head coach Dan Muse offered little reassurance, stating there were no updates on Malkin’s condition when pressed by reporters.
This vagueness is troubling, especially since Muse had previously labeled Malkin as “day-to-day” before the forward was sidelined for an extended period earlier in the season due to a shoulder injury.
Malkin recounted feeling fine immediately after a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 4, only to wake up with pain the following morning. With the Penguins’ next match not scheduled until February 26 after a game against the Ottawa Senators on February 5, the forthcoming break could both disrupt the team’s momentum and potentially offer an opportunity for Malkin to recover fully.
Additional Injury Updates
In addition to Malkin, Jack St. Ivany also exited the victory over the Vancouver Canucks with an upper-body injury, later identified as a left hand issue by The Athletic’s Josh Yohe. St. Ivany’s absence could prove detrimental, especially given his recent contributions to bolstering the defense amid the temporary loss of teammates like Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.
As of Monday, the team had not released any further information regarding Malkin or St. Ivany’s injuries, leaving fans and analysts eagerly awaiting updates ahead of the Thursday matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Furthermore, Bryan Rust‘s situation will also be under scrutiny; he is set for a hearing concerning a check to the head against Vancouver’s Brock Boeser, who has been placed on injured reserve following the incident.
Looking Ahead
With only five games left before the Olympic break—including home games against the Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Senators, followed by a road trip against the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres—timely updates on the health status of Malkin, St. Ivany, and Rust will be pivotal. The Penguins are particularly keen to field their strongest squad as they face potential playoff rivals down the stretch.
