NHL Buzz: Malkin game-time decision for Penguins

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin will be a game-time decision against the New York Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN360, SNP, MSG+, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV).
The forward was removed from practice Wednesday because of an eye irritation. He has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 11 games this season.
Forward Zach Aston-Reese is likely to make his season debut after having offseason shoulder surgery.-- Brian Compton

Columbus Blue Jackets

Elvis Merzlikins will be the backup goalie against the Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, FS-O, NHL.TV) after he was removed from injured reserve.
Merzlikins missed the past three games after sustaining an upper-body injury in practice Feb. 3.
Joonas Korpisalo.will start.
Columbus did not have a morning skate Thursday, and Merzlikins did not practice Wednesday.
Merzlikins is 2-2-1 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in six games (five starts) this season.

Arizona Coyotes

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is expected to return to the lineup against the St. Louis Blues on Friday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A Plus, FS-MW, NHL.TV).
"'O' had a full practice today. He feels good," coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday. "… I think 'O' is good to go, but I'll talk to him at the end of the day."
Ekman-Larsson has missed the past 10 games; he hasn't played since sustaining a lower-body injury in a 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 16 when he was hit into the boards by Evander Kane with 10:48 remaining in the third. The defenseman did not play a shift following the hit.
"It's nice, he's such a talented player, he's going to be huge," forward Conor Garland said. "He's a guy who can get pucks through all the time from the point, who plays about 25 minutes, so I think it'll be big for the rest of our [defenseman] corps, too. I think everybody's playing well right now, and to get somebody like that back is huge."
Ekman-Larsson has three assists in two games this season. -- Alan Robinson

Minnesota Wild

The Wild will practice Friday for the first time since facilities were closed on Feb. 3 because of NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The closure came one day after a 2-1 loss at the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild had games against the St. Louis Blues (Thursday) and Los Angeles Kings (Saturday) postponed on Monday; they previously had four games postponed through Tuesday.
Forwards Nick Bjugstad, Nick Bonino, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno, Marcus Johansson, Victor Rask and Nico Sturm defensemen Jonas Brodin, Ian Cole, Brad Hunt, Carson Soucy, and Jared Spurgeon and goalie Cam Talbot are in protocol.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin said one staff member has tested positive for COVID-19.
The Wild's next scheduled game is at the Kings on Tuesday.

Chicago Blackhawks

Connor Murphy will be out 10-14 days with a right hip injury.
The defenseman, who last played in a 2-1 overtime win against the Dallas Stars on Sunday, will miss his second consecutive game when the Blackhawks host the Columbus Blue Jackets (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, FS-O, NHL.TV).
"Murph plays a lot of minutes for us, plays a big role, particularly defensively," coach Jeremy Colliton said. "He's physical, he kills penalties, plays against top players. We'll miss him. But throughout the year you're going to be missing good players. We have to find a way to fill the void."
Murphy has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in 13 games and is averaging 22:45 of ice time per game, second on the Blackhawks behind defenseman Duncan Keith (24:09).
Forward Andrew Shaw won't play Thursday after being placed in concussion protocol. He was elbowed in the face by Stars defenseman Joel Hanley with 8:17 remaining in the second period of Chicago's 2-1 overtime win against Dallas on Tuesday. Shaw has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 14 games.
Forward Lucas Wallmark, who was removed from NHL COVID-19 protocol Wednesday, and defenseman Adam Boqvist, who was removed from protocol Monday, will not play. -- Tracey Myers

Carolina Hurricanes

Petr Mrazek returned to the ice for the first time since he had thumb surgery Feb. 3.
The goalie was injured during a collision with Hurricanes forward
Max McCormick
2:47 into the first period of a 4-1 win against the Stars on Jan. 30. A timetable for his return has not been announced.
The Hurricanes play at the Stars on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; FS-SW, FS-CR, NHL.TV). Mrazek was on the ice after the morning skate and told the Hurricanes website that he felt good.
Mrazek (2-1-0, 0.99 goals-against average, .955 save percentage) has missed the past five games.