Malkin, along with Nick Bjugstad, will be out long-term after suffering lower-body injuries against the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Sullivan said. On an awkward play in the neutral zone, Malkin tripped and was checked into the boards along the Penguins’ bench.
While it is unknown just how long “longer-term” will be, Malkin is expected to be out longer than Bjustad; however, it is not considered season-ending. It is worth noting that Malkin has not played a complete season since 2008-09, missing 14 games last season and 76 over the last five.
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The 33-year-old Russian registered almost eight minutes of ice time before he tripped while maneuvering the puck around teammate Kris Letang during the second period.
Malkin then fell to his knees as he and the puck slid toward the boards, where he was met by Blue Jackets defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
Gavrikov’s hit did not seem particularly nasty, but something seemed to bother Malkin from either the hit or the fall; he left the Pittsburgh bench for the locker room shortly afterward.
Malkin scored the first goal of his team’s young season Oct. 3 against the Buffalo Sabres.
