Evgeni Malkin has been added to COVID-19 protocol

The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed forward Evgeni Malkin in COVID-19 protocol.

Malkin, 35, just recently made his season debut after recovering from off-season knee surgery. He hasn’t shown any ill-effects, having scored 13 points (5G / 8A) in 12 games played.

The talented forward will be forced to miss at least the next five days while in protocol. During that time, the Penguins will play games in Boston on Tuesday and in Ottawa on Thursday.

The Penguins currently sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 27-11-8 record. They have a three-point lead over the fourth-place Washington Capitals and are two points behind the New York Rangers with one game in hand.

DailyFaceoff Projected Lineup

Fantasy Spin

Losing an elite player like Malkin is always a big loss, but the Penguins have become accustomed to playing without him for the majority of the season thus far.

Look for Jeff Carter (41% Owned) to move up to the center the second line behind Sidney Crosby.
Before Malkin’s return to the lineup, Evan Rodrigues (47%) was pacing for a career season with 30 points (15G / 15A) in 34 games. Since Malkin’s return, Rodrigues has seen increasingly less ice-time and has only registered two assists in those 12 games. Look for him to make an impact in an expanded role while Malkin is sidelined.