The Pittsburgh Penguins could get a gigantic boost ahead of a critical stretch of games as Evgeni Malkin is expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets.
In the meantime, Malkin will miss his ninth consecutive game due to a lower-body injury Wednesday against the Boston Bruins.
Malkin confirms that the plan is for him to play Saturday.
— Dave Molinari (@MolinariPG) February 24, 2016
The 29-year-old forward has 23 goals and 26 assists in 49 games this season.
The Penguins have gone 5-2-1 in his absence, sitting just one point up on the New Jersey Devils for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
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Mike Yeo might have seen the writing on the wall before being fired by the Minnesota Wild, but the former head coach admitted Wednesday that it still affected him.
"I wasn't prepared for what it would feel like. ... When it first happened, it buckled me," Yeo told Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Yeo said things just didn't seem right, even when the Wild were winning earlier in the season.
"We had the best (first half) in franchise history, and things never felt right."
Even though the Wild's previous success ultimately played a role in his dismissal, Yeo said he was most proud of the fact that the Wild raised expectations.
Minnesota fired Yeo on Feb. 13 after suffering their eighth straight defeat, a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.
After the game, the 42-year-old said, "I'm a realist. You can't lose every game and expect to think that there's not going to be changes."
Yeo conceded Wednesday that trade rumors proved to be a distraction, particularly the team's pursuit of Ryan Johansen before the forward was dealt to the Nashville Predators, according to Chad Graff of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
He also said the Wild would have made the playoffs had he not been fired.
As for the immediate future, Yeo has some big things on the agenda.
Yeo has kept sense of humor. Says he has a big Wednesday planned: "I'm going to Home Depot, buy some wallpaper." #mnwild
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) February 24, 2016
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Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Zucker suffered a concussion when he was leveled by an open-ice hit from Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival during Sunday's Stadium Series game.
The earliest Jason Zucker could be activated off injured reserve is Monday, so he'll miss at least the next 3 #mnwild games
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) February 24, 2016
The news comes after interim head coach John Torchetti told reporters Tuesday that Zucker had not suffered a concussion.
With the 24-year-old sidelined, the club recalled forward Jordan Schroeder from the Iowa Wild.
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Longtime San Jose Sharks defenseman Scott Hannan officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday.
Hannan played 16 seasons in the league, spending parts of 11 as a member of the Sharks. He went unsigned as a free agent this season.
"I was extremely fortunate to play in the NHL with five great organizations," Hannan said in a release. "I'd like to thank all of my teammates and coaches over the years who have contributed so much to my career. It's also very gratifying to end my NHL career where it started - with the San Jose Sharks.
"I'd be remiss for not also thanking Bruce Hamilton and Lorne Frey with the Kelowna Rockets for putting me on the path to have a chance to play in the NHL. Most importantly, I want to thank all of my family, particularly my wife Kristina and my boys, Gage and Owen. Their sacrifices have allowed me the opportunity to follow this dream of playing in the National Hockey League."
The 37-year-old sits sixth on the Sharks' all-time games played list with 626, and is one of only six Sharks to suit up in more than 600 games with the franchise.
After being drafted by the team in the first round in 1997, Hannan spent his first six seasons in San Jose before stints with the Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames, and Nashville Predators.
Hannan returned to the Sharks for his final three seasons.
He concludes his career with 38 goals and 217 points in 1,055 games played.
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Rich Clune gave one of the best intermission interviews you'll ever see Tuesday night.
Clune told TSN's Mark Masters what he said to Nashville Predators center Cody Bass when the two tough guys got up close and personal during the pregame warmup prior to the Predators' 3-2 win.
It's as close as the NHL gets to cutting WWE-style promos, and it didn't take long for others to make that connection.
I thought Rich Clune's interview on Cody Bass was missing something. pic.twitter.com/urItr8py9W
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) February 24, 2016
Clune might have a future in wrestling when his hockey career is over.
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