Mar 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) prepares for a face-off against the New York Islanders during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3fa463d8-4ba0-41fa-b52a-21016ecf9af0.jpeg] Mar 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) prepares for a face-off against the New York Islanders during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) It appears a key forward is nearing a return for the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins]. Center Evgeni Malkin - out since Mar. 23 with an upper-body injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/game-day/penguins-v-lightning-preview-crosby-on-verge-of-nhl-history] - was a full participant when the Penguins practiced Friday in Dallas. Malkin skated in his customary second-line center position between Rickard Rakell and rookie Ville Koivunen, which is a combination that was showcased briefly during training camp. Malkin is expected to be a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt against the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/]. These were the lines and pairings from practice on Friday with Malkin back in the fold: McGroarty-Crosby-Rust Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen Dewar-Hayes-Tomasino Heinen-Lizotte-Acciari Grzyleck-Letang Timmins-Karlsson Graves-Kolyachonok/Shea Mar 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Emil Bemstrom (52) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/6763741d-bd58-421f-907c-adaf1989fbcb.jpeg] Mar 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Emil Bemstrom (52) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) - In other news, the Penguins officially optioned forward Emil Bemstrom back to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (WBS) on Friday. Bemstrom was waived by the Penguins on Apr. 1 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/penguins-forward-emil-bemstrom-placed-on-waivers] and cleared the next day, but the Penguins kept him on their roster until Friday. He registered one point in 13 games with the NHL club this season. Bemstrom will rejoin WBS for their Calder Cup quest. Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate has already clinched a playoff berth [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/game-day/wbs-penguins-clinch-playoff-berth-with-thrilling-4-3-overtime-win-over-hartford], but they are vying for a first-round bye in the final stretch of the season. In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom recorded 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named to the AHL All-Star team. He led the team in scoring prior to his NHL call-up on Feb. 7. McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To Blues [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/c2f6f64c-d30a-4e0d-b37b-458a95fbfd84.jpeg] McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To Blues The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' 5-4 overtime loss to the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues">St. Louis Blues</a> on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/game-day/mcgroarty-scores-first-nhl-goal-in-penguins-5-4-overtime-loss-to-blues] - Rutger McGroarty scored his first NHL goal [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/game-day/mcgroarty-scores-first-nhl-goal-in-penguins-5-4-overtime-loss-to-blues] on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] with just 23.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. As for what he plans to do with his first-goal puck (which, evidently, Koivunen - who also registered his first NHL point on the play - let him keep)? "I plan to give the puck to my parents," McGroarty said. "They've been there through every stage, and they've helped me with just about everything in my life. I couldn't be here without him." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
