Russian Hockey star Malkin out for All-Star Game
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will not play Thursday against Boston or in Sunday's National Hockey League All-Star Game due to a lower-body injury, the reigning NHL champions announced Wednesday.
The 30-year-old Russian suffered the unspecified setback in Pittsburgh's 3-0 loss to St. Louis on Tuesday and will be re-evaluated next week after the break for Sunday's showcase of elite talent in Los Angeles, according to coach Mike Sullivan.
Malkin has 22 goals and has set up 32 others so far this season, sharing fourth in the league in both categories.
Three-time Olympian Malkin helped Russia win the 2012 and 2014 World Championships and was a key member of the Penguins' 2009 and 2016 Stanley Cup title runs.
He won the 2007 Calder Trophy as the NHL's top newcomer, the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup playoffs Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the 2012 Hart Trophy as the NHL season MVP.