Malkin week-to-week with upper-body injury

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is week-to-week with an upper-body injury, the team announced Tuesday.

It's unclear exactly when Malkin suffered the injury, though he missed Pittsburgh's previous game Sunday against the Dallas Stars.

Malkin is a major reason why the Penguins have been one of the most surprising teams in the NHL this season, as they enter Tuesday holding down a playoff spot after many expected them to be a lottery team. Malkin has recorded 29 points in 26 games, one point back of Sidney Crosby for the team lead. Malkin hasn't recorded a point-per-game season since 2022-23, when he notched 83 points in 82 appearances.

The 39-year-old is in the final year of his contract, generating speculation that this could be his last NHL season. He said in September that his future will be determined depending on how the season goes.

Pittsburgh's healthy center options without Malkin include Crosby, Tommy Novak, Ben Kindel, Kevin Hayes, Avery Hayes, and Connor Dewar.