About the Project » uukka Rask made 33 sa

The sight of Evgeni Malkin on the ice brought a smile to many in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ locker room.

Even knowing they wouldn’t have him in the lineup for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Washington Capitals on Thursday night DeForest Buckner Jersey , the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions could glean some optimism that the skilled Russian center won’t be out long with his apparent leg injury.

”It’s always nice to see a guy like him out there,” winger Bryan Rust said Thursday after an optional morning skate.

”He’s a guy who’s obviously really important to our team and brings so much. Just to see him out there and see him getting closer is nice.”

Coach Mike Sullivan said Malkin skating ”means he’s that much closer” to playing, even if the 31-year-old was wearing a white no-contact jersey. Malkin traveling with the team to Washington plus the progress he appears to be making could put him in line to return as soon as Game 2 Sunday afternoon.

”It’s great for our team, great for Geno that he’s on the ice and skating,” Sullivan said. ”He’s a big part of this team. He’s a difference-maker and not an easy guy to replace.”

Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia in Game 6 without Malkin Terron Armstead Jersey , who was injured in Game 5 on April 20 and hadn’t practiced since. Absent the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, the Penguins rely more heavily on superstar Sidney Crosby and fellow centers Derick Brassard, Riley Sheahan and Tom Kuhnhackl.

”We have the depth on our roster,” Kuhnhackl said. ”We’ve showed that before. At the end, it doesn’t matter who’s in the lineup and who’s out. Everyone’s capable of playing the right way.”

Few in the NHL can play like Malkin Joe Hawley Jersey , who has three goals and two assists in five playoff games so far. General manager Jim Rutherford acquiring Brassard at the trade deadline certainly helps Pittsburgh’s depth down the middle, but it takes more than one or two players to fill the void without Malkin.

”One of the best players in the world, almost 100 points this year,” Brassard said. ”You can’t really replace a guy who scored 40 goals, but I think as a team we can do a better job and are trying to do a better job.”

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Tomas Hertl scored his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs Tom Rathman Jersey , Martin Jones made 34 saves for his sixth career postseason shutout and the San Jose Sharks evened their second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 4-0 victory in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Marcus Sorensen and Joonas Donskoi scored in the first period to allow San Jose to play from ahead and Joe Pavelski added a power-play goal in the third to help the Sharks rebound from an overtime loss at home in Game 3.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves and Vegas failed to convert on all five power-play chances to lose for the second time in eight games this postseason.

The teams have now alternated wins through four games, heading into Game 5 on Friday night in Vegas.

LIGHTNING 4, BRUINS 1

BOSTON (AP) – Ondrej Palat scored twice in the first 3:19 of the game, and Tampa Bay beat Boston to open a 2-1 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 28 shots for Tampa Bay, which has won two straight since losing the series opener at home.

Anthony Cirelli scored his first career NHL playoff goal – with an assist from Yanni Gourde Kyle Lauletta Jersey , whose wife gave birth on Tuesday – giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 lead late in the first.

Patrice Bergeron scored his fourth goal of the playoffs for Boston, and Tuukka Rask made 33 saves.

Game 4 is Friday night.

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