Evgeni Malkin will not join the Pittsburgh Penguins on their road trip, meaning the forward will be out at least until Tuesday.
"He'll meet us when we get back [to Pittsburgh]," coach Mike Johnston told the Penguins website Wednesday. "We'll get a skate with him and see where he's at. It sounds like things are progressing quite well, but he won't join us on the trip."
Malkin has missed two games with a lower-body injury he sustained in the first period of a 2-0 loss to the Boston Bruins on March 14.
The Penguins, also without forward Patric Hornqvist, have lost three in a row and have been shut out twice.
Malkin has played 63 of the Penguins' 70 games this season and has 68 points (28 goals).
The Penguins, who lost 2-0 at the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, play at the Dallas Stars on Thursday and at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Pittsburgh, third in the Metropolitan Division, hosts the St. Louis Blues on March 24.