Penguins star Evgeni Malkin is unlikely to play against the Florida Panthers in the Penguins' home opener Tuesday night, Rob Rossi reports. Malkin, who has one of those nebulous "lower-body" injuries, didn't play in the Penguins' last game, against the Edmonton Oilers. He was on the ice with the Penguins this morning, but he did not skate with a line. His current injury is unrelated to the knee problems that sidelined him for much of last season.
Rossi also notes that defenseman Brooks Orpik (abdomen) will not play, either.
The Panthers were among the NHL's worst teams last season, but they look very different this year, adding Kris Versteeg, Brian Campbell, Tomas Fleischmann, Sean Bergenheim (who played a key role in the Pens' defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in last season's playoffs) and others. They're also replacing goalie Tomas Vokoun with Jose Theodore.
The game is at 7:30 PM and will be broadcast on Versus and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.
To follow the game with fellow Penguins fans, check out PensBurgh.
UPDATE: The Post-Gazette notes that Malkin will, in fact, be out, and that the injury is simply "soreness."