Malkin can't stay healthy

written by Lori Pometo
 Evgeni Malkin can’t seem to catch a break these days.  The Penguins center recently missed five games due to a nagging knee injury and a nasty sinus infection.  He returned Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres just to go down with only six minutes of playing time under his belt.  He went down after clashing with defensemen Tyler Myers.   Malkin lay on the ice, motionless as team trainers and players went to his aide.  He missed the rest of the game with a reported lower body injury. 

Before this, Malkin battled with a reoccurring left knee injury, which has kept him from playing healthy so far this season.  He dealt with it early in December, making him miss a total of four games.  He was hot as soon as he stepped back out onto the ice on December 14, helping his teammates score against the Philadelphia Flyers.  He went on to be a leading force for the Penguins for the remainder of the year.  At the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, #71 scored the first goal of the night and the only goal for Pittsburgh.  He seemed unstoppable. 

Late January came around and Malkin was out again with the same lower body (knee) injury and it was accompanied by a sinus infection.  He wound up missing a total of five games plus the NHL All Star Game which he was fan voted to participate in. 

Malkin was quoted on Wednesday as saying “My knee is 100 percent ready”.  This was his left knee, of course.  It seemed as if he was having trouble with his right knee Friday.  When he stood up, he couldn’t put his weight on it.

It seems like as soon as he progresses an inch he is knocked down again.  He has now been injured or ill three times in the past two months, missing a total of nine games (10 if you count Friday night).  I can’t help but feel bad for the guy.