Prominent faces in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup are struggling to stay healthy.

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins have played three games since returning from the All-Star break, and it seems like the injury bug also returned. In their most recent full-team practice, the Penguins skated with just 10 forwards with four notable names on the shelf. Another skater departed the workout early as a precaution.

Evgeni Malkin was absent from practice for the second time since teams reconvened following the bye week. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan labeled them both as maintenance days, but that’s still something to monitor. Malkin is 37 years old and has a lengthy injury history. He was healthy all of last season and to start this year, but something may have caught up to him.

In both games against the Winnipeg Jets this year, the Penguins have lost a fourth-line forward to a concussion. Noel Acciari took an illegal check to the head from Jets defender Brenden Dillon, forcing disciplinary action against Dillon. While the hit cost Dillon three games, Acciari’s status was unclear. Acciari did skate on his own before a team workout, so progress is being made.

Harkins suffered his concussion in Winnipeg and has since been moved to injured reserve. Concussions aren’t easy to track, so there is no accurate timetable for Harkins and when he’ll be able to return.

Matt Nieto has been out since late November and has yet to skate. The most recent update on Nieto was that he underwent successful knee surgery that should keep him out until late February/early March.

Kris Letang isn’t quite injured and out of the lineup, but he did leave the Penguins’ most recent practice as a precaution. Sullivan said Letang was “nicked up” and didn’t want to take risks with the team's best blueliner.

The Penguins are a franchise familiar with injuries and illness, but the team has been relatively healthy this year. No corresponding moves or recalls have been made to fill gaps, so there is still hope that the team is healthy enough to keep fighting for a playoff spot.

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