Fleury uncertain for Game 2, Malkin thinks he'll return vs. Rangers | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Fleury uncertain for Game 2, Malkin thinks he'll return vs. Rangers

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) and Winnipeg Jets' Dustin Byfuglien (33) battle in the corner during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. Penguins' goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is uncertain for Game 2, but Malkin thinks he'll return against Rangers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Marc-Andre Fleury didn't sound convinced that he would be ready to return for the Pittsburgh Penguins' next playoff game.

Fleury said he was hopeful to start Game 2 against the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon, but couldn't be certain. The 31-year-old looked to be in line for the Game 1 start on Wednesday night but was ultimately deemed not ready to return from a concussion that's kept him out since Mar. 31.

Twenty-year-old relative unknown Jeff Zatkoff filled in admirably for the injured star in the Penguins' series-opening 5-2 win. Zatkoff stopped 35 of 37 shots in his first ever playoff appearance, a performance Fleury described as "awesome".

Fleury said the decision not to play was made between himself and the team's doctors, though he denied that he suffered a setback after participating in practice with the team on Tuesday.

"Still a work in progress, I think," Fleury said Thursday afternoon, appearing to choose his words carefully following an optional skate with teammates. "I think it's moving along. Hopefully it's good enough for Saturday."

This is Fleury's second concussion this season. He missed eight games earlier this year with the first one suffered in mid-December.

He seemed to express caution in returning too soon this time around. Penguins coach Mike Sullivan would say only that Fleury was day-to-day. He was coy about Fleury's status ahead of Game 1, leading many, including the Rangers, to believe that Fleury would start.

Equally uncertain for the Penguins is the return of injured centre Evgeni Malkin, sidelined since mid-March by an upper-body injury due to keep him out 6-8 weeks.

Malkin took part in the Penguins skate on Thursday and expected to practise in full with the team on Friday. He was hopeful to return before the end of the series against New York.

"Every day it's better I'm glad," said Malkin, who had 58 points in 57 games this season. "Of course I feel (I'll) play versus Rangers."

"I don't really have a timeline, but certainly that's our hope," Sullivan said of Malkin.

Sullivan thought Malkin looked great at the optional skate, strong and able to participate in some of the drills that required contact. His return would give the Penguins one more weapon in their bid to advance past the Rangers after losses to New York in each of the past two post-seasons.

Malkin hasn't played since March 11.

"Obviously he's a difference-maker," Sullivan said. "We're a better team when he's in our lineup and we'll put him in our lineup when all of us that are involved with his health and where he's at physically believe we can put him in a position to be successful and that he can help us win."

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016
The Canadian Press

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