Penguins' Evgeni Malkin: Expected back soon

Malkin (upper body) will return to the lineup "sooner rather than later," according to coach Mike Sullivan.

Unfortunately for fantasy owners, "sooner" will not include Wednesday's meeting with the Blackhawks, as Malkin will miss his seventh consecutive game to this ailment. Injuries have plagued the center's career, as he has not played in 70-plus outings since the 2011-12 season. Even so, the Russian remains a top-end fantasy player due to the fact that he's averaging 1.18 points per game in his NHL career.