The NHL All-Star Game will be a little less bright this year.
Evgeni Malkin will miss the festivities due to a lower-body injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins have announced. There's no timetable for his return.
Malkin was forced to make a brief exit from Tuesday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers to be examined by team trainers, and missed Wednesday's tilt with the Chicago Blackhawks altogether as a result of the injury.
The Russian superstar sits in a tie for third in league scoring at the break, with 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 45 games.