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Reigning NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin to miss at least 1 game with possible concussion

By: The Associated Press

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 at 2:15 PM | Comments: 0

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin skates to the locker room during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers in Pittsburgh on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The Penguins won 3-1. Malkin did not return to the game. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Reigning NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin is still undergoing tests following a scary crash into the boards during Friday night's 3-1 win over Florida.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star will miss at least one game.

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.

"He's still getting evaluated as to the extent of the hit and going into the boards hard," Bylsma said Saturday. "That's an ongoing process at this point in time

"He's getting evaluated and we're waiting to see how he feels and reacts. He obviously went into the boards pretty darn hard."

Pittsburgh's second-leading scorer slammed hard into the end boards early in the third period 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. He skated off the ice under his own power but did not participate in an optional skate on Saturday morning.

Bylsma said the club was following "NHL protocols" and will monitor how Malkin recovers before giving any sort of timetable on when he might return.

The 26-year-old Russian, who led the NHL in points last season, has four goals and 17 assists for Pittsburgh.

Linemate James Neal called it a "tough hit." Gudbranson was not penalized for the play.

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