Penguins fans get Evgeni Malkin injury news that they have been waiting for

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been navigating without big part of the core three and superstar center Evgeni Malkin for quite a bit now. About a month ago or so, he took what head coach Dan Muse described as a "maintenance day" off from practice and was told he was okay and nothing to worry about.

But after that, he was placed on IR a few days after and it left Penguins fans wondering what had happened and how a maintenance day and no injury turns into an IR stint. But now as the Penguins are currently on a three game win streak, they got more good news. Evgeni Malkin returned to practice in a no-contact jersey.

If the Penguins can get their superstar center back within the next week or so after the back-to-back this upcoming weekend, that would seriously help them. Tommy Novak has been doing a good job in his place as second-line center and having a powerplay spot on the second unit.

Usually, Malkin is the one centering wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau and is usually on the top powerplay unit. But since Malkin has been sidelined, Mantha has taken his spot on the first powerplay unit.

Not to say that Novak and Mantha have not been doing a good job in number 71's spot, they have, but Malkin is just a different kind of player. He is one that Penguins fans know can really drive play and move his feet and has quite the shot when he uses it.

And his best friends Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang definitely miss him as well. The Penguins are just a better team when Malkin is healthy and is the second-line center behind Crosby. Before the injury, Malkin's line was one of if not the Penguins best line.

But if they can get him back soon, before the Penguins are set to go on a long road trip starting on January 19 in Seattle, that would really help. His presence has been dearly missed.