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Penguins set to welcome back Malkin for clash with Sabres

Feb 4, 2011 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Penguins expect to have Evgeni Malkin back tonight, when they shoot for a fifth straight victory against the well-rested Buffalo Sabres at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Penguins won their fourth game in a row Wednesday night against the visiting New York Islanders, but they did so once again without the club's two biggest stars -- Malkin and Sidney Crosby.

But, after missing the last five games, Malkin is ready to return from a sinus infection.

"Evgeni Malkin will be playing [Friday]," said Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma on Thursday.

Malkin has not played since January 18 against Detroit and also missed the All-Star Game last weekend because of the issue. He has also battled a balky knee. The Russian forward has 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 42 games this season.

Even with Malkin's expected return this evening, the Pens still have injury concerns to deal with. Bylsma added Thursday that center Mark Letestu will undergo knee surgery and will be sidelined for about 4-to-6 weeks.

Letestu has 10 goals and 10 assists in 50 games for the Penguins this season. He was injured along with fellow forward Arron Asham in Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers. Asham has an unspecified upper-body injury and is questionable for tonight's tilt.

Pittsburgh been without Crosby for the past 11 games due to a concussion, and while the captain has been cleared for light exercise his return date is still unknown.

The Pens ability to win without Crosby and Malkin in the lineup has helped Pittsburgh stay within three points behind Philadelphia for first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh is also seeded fourth in the East.

The Pens posted a 3-0 victory over the Isles on Wednesday, as Tyler Kennedy and Chris Kunitz scored first-period goals to lead the club on offense. Maxime Talbot also added an empty-net goal for the Penguins.

Brent Johnson stopped all 20 New York shots he faced before getting involved in a scrap with Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro during the waning moments of regulation.

The fight, which occurred with 16.5 seconds remaining, didn't last long as Johnson knocked DiPietro down with one left hook, leaving No. netminder Marc- Andre Fleury to preserve the shutout, the second in nine days against the Islanders. Fleury made 29 saves in a 1-0 win on January 25.

The Pens have also won four straight on home ice, bringing the club's record at CONSOL Energy Center to 18-9-1.

The Sabres, meanwhile, won four out of five to close out January, but tonight will be the club's first game following the All-Star break.

Buffalo, which is six points out of a playoff spot in the East, last played on Jan. 25 when they notched a 3-2 overtime victory in Ottawa. Shaone Morrisonn scored his first goal of the season 1:59 into OT to lift the Sabres to the win over the Senators.

Despite the long layoff since that win over the Sens, the Sabres were in the news Tuesday when the club announced that owner Tom Golisano has reached an agreement to sell the team and its related companies to billionaire Terry Pegula. The agreement is subject to review and approval by the NHL in a process that could take several weeks.

Sabres forward Tim Connolly has also had time to recover from a hip injury during the Sabres' extended All-Star break and he is expected to be activated from injured reserve and play tonight. Connolly, who has six goals and 14 assists in 35 games this year, missed Buffalo's last two tilts before the break.

Connolly's fellow forward Patrick Kaleta, however, is not expected to play tonight after sitting out the last two games with a hand injury.

The Sabres have won three straight and five of their last six on the road and are 12-9-4 as the away club this season.

Pittsburgh is 2-0 against the Sabres this season after notching a pair of wins in Buffalo. The Pens have taken four in a row and six out of seven in the series overall.

Buffalo has lost two straight and five of six in Pittsburgh, but tonight's test will mark the Sabres' first visit to CONSOL Energy Center.