Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin to return after 6-game absence due to lower-body injury

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin is set to return to the lineup after missing the past six games due to a lower-body ailment, reports Rob Rossi of The Athletic.

Sidelined since late January, Malkin has made 47 appearances with the Penguins this season in which he has recorded nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points alongside 24 penalty minutes and a minus-19 rating.

Originally chosen second overall by Pittsburgh in the 2004 NHL Draft, the 38-year-old Russian-born forward has seen 1,192 career contests with the Penguins in which he has amassed 507 goals and 823 assists for 1,330 points to rank third all-time in franchise scoring behind Mario Lemieux and teammate Sidney Crosby. Malkin has also added 67 goals and 114 assists for 180 points in 177 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In all, through 19 seasons with the Penguins, Malkin has scored 30 or more goals on six occasions, while in three campaigns he has reached triple-digit production, underscored by a career-high 113-point finish coming in 2008-09. That season also saw the Penguins hoist the Stanley Cup, one of three championships that Malkin has won with Pittsburgh. Among his other accolades, Malkin has also been twice presented with the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s top point producer, including 2011-12 when he also took home the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. In 2008-09, Malkin was recognized with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after pacing the Penguins with 36 points in 24 outings en route to the Stanley Cup.

Malkin rejoins a Penguins squad that sits 23-25-9 on the season and six points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. Following the conclusion of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Penguins will resume play Saturday against the Metropolitan Division rival Washington Capitals.