The Pittsburgh Penguins are in need of wins. Their recent run of strong play has tapered just slightly, and just enough to be on the wrong side of seven of their last nine games, including three that went beyond regulation.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin participated in his team’s practice session Wednesday in Cranberry. One day earlier, he was scratched because of an undisclosed injury for a 4-3 home shootout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Injured Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin seemed to be full contact and flying around the ice at practice Friday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, but he did not resume regular line rushes in his normal spot at second-line center,

The Pittsburgh Penguins lineup got a little jolt Tuesday when coach Mike Sullivan decided to re-insert Jesse Puljujarvi onto the third line, but it got a major jolt when Evgeni Malkin was not on the ice for warmups.

The Pittsburgh Penguins lineup got a little jolt Tuesday when coach Mike Sullivan decided to re-insert Jesse Puljujarvi onto the third line, but it got a major jolt when Evgeni Malkin was not on the ice for warmups.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Rickard Rakell snapped a sharp one-timer on a late third-period power play after Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett roughed Drew O’Connor with 2:01 remaining in the game.