Impact: Malkin is 10 days into a team-described 14-day rest period. He says he's close to returning. "I hope I'm close to [being where] my shoulder is not sore, and it's a little bit stronger, and I hope to come back soon," Malkin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I'm skating, and my legs feel great...I played three years with no injuries. That's good. But just a couple games more and I hope to come back." Malkin made his statement prior to Saturday's late game, making it possible that he plays two of three games in the coming week.