Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin skated with the team at practice Tuesday and afterward told reporters he hopes to play in the next game, Friday at the New York Islanders.
Malkin will not play Tuesday against the Washington Capitals, the sixth straight he'll have missed due to an upper-body injury. The team has said this injury is not related to the concussion he sustained last month.
During Tuesday's practice, Malkin skated in Matt Cooke's spot, on the wing with center Brandon Sutter and forward Tyler Kennedy.
Malkin has five goals and 19 assists in 21 games this season.
