Sullivan could put Crosby and Malkin on same line, but won't commit

For Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, it has to be tempting.

As his club's first-round series against the Rangers shifts to New York, Sullivan was asked about potentially playing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin - who returned to the lineup for the first time since March 11 on Saturday - on the same line. He didn't rule it out, but he didn't commit to the idea, either.

"There's no reason why two players that are as good as they are cannot work together," Sullivan said Sunday, according to the Penguins' website.

Here's more from Sullivan's media availability on the topic, as transcribed by the Penguins' website:

I'm not sure that they haven't worked together in the past. I know that they've played together at times in the past and at times they've been apart. We should have the ability to do both, play them together at times and play them apart at times. They seem to work extremely well on the power play together. When Geno was in the lineup prior to getting hurt our power play was, for probably a five- or six-week span, was at 30-percent plus. I'm not one of those guys that throws an opinion around just because they've been used at times together in the past and certain people think it will work or it won't work. I believe that two very good players have the ability to play with anybody and adapt their game accordingly because of their talent. Having said that, I'm not convinced that I'll use them together moving forward. That's something that is an option for us. If we do choose to go that route, there's no reason why two players that are as good as they are cannot work together. They're two elite players that think the game on a high level, and they have the ability to play a down low game and a fast, speed game off of the rush. That’s really the way I look at it. I know there's been different schools of thought, theories in the past of how these guys have been used. Another comment that I would have is that I think both of these guys are in a different place than they were in the previous years. They're a little bit older. They have more experience under their belt. They probably have the benefit of a little bit more perspective because they've gone through different experiences. We all learn from our experiences. For me, that's how you gain wisdom. I think these guys from a mindset standpoint are in a very different place than they have been in the past.

Malkin was used on the wing in Game 2, which the Penguins lost. Asked whether he agreed with the move, Malkin admitted it had been difficult.

"I think no because it's a little bit tough," said Malkin - a natural center, and one of the best - told reporters, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Seth Rorabaugh. "I like to play my position the whole game. I think it's just one game because we have five centers and it's a little bit tough for coach. I think next game, I will play center."

We'll find out Tuesday.