Updated

The Pittsburgh Penguins will again be without star center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang for Friday's game against the New York Islanders.

Malkin returned to practice Tuesday, but is still not game ready as he recovers from an upper body injury he sustained in a March 9 game against Toronto. It is unrelated to the concussion that kept him out of four games in late February and early March.

Letang, meanwhile, will miss his second straight game with a lower body injury he suffered last Sunday against Boston.

In 21 games this season, Malkin has five goals and 19 assists for 24 points.

Letang is the NHL's leading scorer among defensemen with 28 points in 27 games.