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Penguins News: Malkin, Koivunen & Jones Updates
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- Penguins News: Malkin, Koivunen & Jones Updates
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
CRANBERRY —The Pittsburgh Penguins will undergo a few lineup changes Thursday when they face the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will, in all likelihood, rejoin the lineup. Malkin has not played since the Penguins' Dec. 4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena.
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Malkin's absence at practice the following day was termed a maintenance day, but as the player explained Tuesday, he suffered a shoulder injury that was more serious than expected and caused him pain for several weeks.
Coach Dan Muse indicated Malkin will get final clearance later today, but implied that Malkin taking the morning skate after a full practice on Wednesday was the final hurdle.
Muse was again coy about his lines at practice Wednesday, in which Malkin was on the wing with Ben Kindel at center and Egor Chinakhov on the right wing.
Ville Koivunen
After placing Rutger McGroarty on injured reserve with a concussion on Wednesday, the Penguins did not need to open a roster spot for Malkin. However, the team still demoted winger Ville Koivunen to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, rather than keep the young player as one of 14 forwards.
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Forward Kevin Hayes will remain the extra forward.
Caleb Jones
Penguins left-handed defenseman Caleb Jones also returned to the ice for the first time in a few months.
Jones suffered a lower-body injury after crashing into the boards in the Oct. 23 game against the Florida Panthers and has not played since.
"He was playing well. It's unfortunate with the injury," Muse said. "As for his status, it doesn't change anything. It's just another step in the right direction. For him, it's been a long time, I'm sure there's a lot of excitement to be out there with the larger group … I think it's always a big step for somebody who has been out."
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The post Penguins News: Malkin, Koivunen & Jones Updates appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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