The league’s reigning MVP hasn’t played since his concussion after slamming into the end boards in a win over Florida on Feb. 22.

Coach Dan Bylsma says Malkin has passed all the mandatory NHL protocols following a head injury. Malkin says he has not experienced headaches, neck soreness or other symptoms. Malkin adds he did have short-term memory loss the day he was hurt.

Malkin has four goals and 17 assists this season. The Penguins went 2-2 in Malkin’s absence. The 26-year-old is to play on the second line with Beau Bennett and James Neal against the Lightning.

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Malkin has symptoms that include a severe headache and mild disorientation, the newspaper reported, citing multiple sources.

Malkin was injured in the third period of Friday’s game against the Panthers after getting nudged by Florida’s Erik Gudbranson. Malkin’s back hit the boards at full speed and his head snapped back upon impact.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma ruled Malkin out for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. Bylsma declined to elaborate on the nature of what is being called an “upper body” injury but added that Malkin is not hospitalized.

Pittsburgh’s second-leading scorer, Malkin has registered 14 goals and 25 points in 22 games this season. The Russian center collected 50 goals and 109 points last season en route to winning the Hart Trophy.

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Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators
When: 5:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 27, 2013
Where: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario
TV: 5 p.m., ROOT, Sportsnet East, TVA
Prediction: Senators 5, Penguins 4

Oddsmakers currently have the Penguins listed as 121-moneyline favorites versus the Senators, while the game’s total is sitting at 5½.

Starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has split time with offseason signing Tomas Vokoun thus far. Both have a win and a loss, as well as a goals-against average around 3.00, but Vokoun holds the edge in save percentage with .908 to Fleury’s .882. Crosby and reigning Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin are tied for the team lead with five points, while James Neal leads the club with 22 shots and has three goals. Chris Kunitz, who has three points, leads the team with 15 hits.

Pittsburgh was a 4-2 loser in its last match on the road against the Jets. They lost as -130 favorites, while the total score of 6 made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 3-1-0 SU, ATS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 7 of last 8 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of last 10 games at home
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Tampa Bay are 3-7
After a loss are 4-6

Karlsson, who won the Norris Trophy last season as the league’s best defenseman, leads the team with 17 shots and is plus-6. Jason Spezza, who had a team-high 84 points last season, has four points. Captain Daniel Alfredsson has three assists so far and is 15 points away from reaching 1,100 in his career. Milan Michalek hasn’t scored since Ottawa’s season-opener but has points in all four games so far.

The Senators were a 6-4 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Lightning. That made winners of bettors who got Tampa Bay at -125 on the moneyline, while the total score (10) was good news for OVER bettors.

Team record: 2-2-0 SU, ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of last 5 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 7 of last 8 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 14 of last 17 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 17 of last 21 games
When playing on Sunday are 5-5
Before playing Ottawa are 6-4
After playing Winnipeg are 7-3
After a loss are 6-4

The post Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators Free Betting Tip & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

Pittsburgh at Winnipeg
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, January 25, 2013
Where: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
TV: 8 p.m., ROOT (Pittsburgh), TSN (Winnipeg)
Prediction: Penguins 4, Jets 1

Pittsburgh has a good chance to return to its winning ways if recent history holds true. The Penguins have won three straight and 15 of 16 against the Jets’ franchise. Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler collected a goal and an assist apiece in Winnipeg’s 4-2 triumph over Southeast Division foe Washington on Wednesday.

Malkin, who has secured points in all three games this season, has tormented the Jets by registering five-point performances in each of the last two meetings. James Neal led all scorers with five goals in the season series – including a hat trick in Pittsburgh’s 8-4 victory on March 20, 2012. The eight-goal effort was the second straight in the set by the Penguins, who won three of four against Winnipeg.

While the MTS Centre was pretty much a safe haven for Winnipeg last season, coach Claude Noel’s club lost its final four home tilts in the 2011-12 campaign before suffering a 4-1 loss to Ottawa in Manitoba on Saturday. The Jets collected three points (1-0-1) on their two-game road swing – and doubled their previous scoring output by erupting for four goals versus the Capitals. Ondrej Pavelec boasts a spectacular .929 save percentage this season, but – like his team – has struggled versus the Penguins.

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