Malkin: 'I feel I'm ready to play' before playoffs begin

Evgeni Malkin believes he'll be able to return from injury before the postseason gets underway.

"I feel I'm ready to play," the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar told reporters Wednesday. "I want (a) couple more games before playoffs. I need confidence back, I need (the) feel in (a) game, feeling (the) puck. I hope (Thursday) I wake up and I feel great and I'm ready to play."

Malkin practiced with his teammates Wednesday, and head coach Mike Sullivan called him a game-time decision for Thursday's game against the Detroit Red Wings, which will be Pittsburgh's penultimate regular-season contest.

He has missed the last eight games with what the club classified as an upper-body ailment, and was labeled week-to-week on March 17.

Malkin has notched 50 assists and 71 points in 66 games this season.

The Penguins close out their regular-season schedule Saturday night against the New York Rangers.