Lightning/NHL

Penguins' Malkin nearer to his debut

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 14, 2006

PITTSBURGH - Penguins rookie center Evgeni Malkin took part in limited contact drills in practice with his teammates Friday, and coach Michel Therrien said the Russian star could make his NHL debut as early as next week.

Malkin, the No. 2 pick in the 2004 draft, dislocated his shoulder in a preseason game Sept. 20. He probably will not play today against Carolina, and doctors will decide whether he will play Wednesday against New Jersey, Therrien said.

"He's making some great progress," Therrien said. "He's working really hard to get back into the lineup as soon as possible. We're excited about the way he's come along."

In 2005-06, Malkin had 47 points in 46 games for Magnitogorsk in the Russian Super League and had six points in seven games for Russia at the Turin Olympics.

Wild: Left wing Pascal Dupuis will be out four to six weeks with a sprained left knee. Dupuis was hurt in the first period Thursday against Washington when he collided with Capitals defenseman Steve Eminger. Dupuis left the ice immediately and limped to the training room. Dupuis, in his fifth year with Minnesota, had 10 goals and 16 assists in 67 games last season. The Wild also returned center James Sheppard to his junior team in Quebec. The first-round draft pick injured his back at the beginning of training camp and had been rehabilitating in Minnesota.

[Last modified October 14, 2006, 06:13:57]