Practice update--April 15

Evgeni Malkin, who missed the last 11 games of the regular season because of a foot injury, and Joe Vitale, who was out the last 13 games because of an unspecified injury, practiced with the Penguins today at Consol Energy Center.

Both skated in their accustomed spot. That's a pretty good sign that they could be available Wednesday when the Penguins open their postseason against Columbus.

Before practice, goaltender Tomas Vokoun and winger Chris Conner (foot injury) skated with strength and conditioning coach Mike Kadar. Neither returned for the main practice.

Also before practice, the Penguins reassigned three players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. The biggest name was defenseman Simon Despres, a 2009 first-round pick who has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player and pretty obviously was not going to play in the postseason, at least not early on. After a season full of injuries, the Penguins have eight healthy defensemen without Despres.

Despres played in 34 games at each level, the NHL and AHL, this season. With the NHL Penguins, he had five assists and was a plus-4.

Also sent to Wilkes-Barre were forwards Chuck Kobasew and Harry Zolnierczyk, who played Sunday in the Penguins' season finale against Ottawa.

The lines:

Chris Kunitz-Sidney Crosby-Beau Bennett

Jussi Jokinen-Evgeni Malkin-James Neal

Tanner Glass-Brandon Sutter-Lee Stempniak

Craig Adams-Joe Vitale-Brian Gibbons

(Taylor Pyatt, Jayson Megna)

The pairings:

Brooks Orpik-Paul Martin

Rob Scuderi-Kris Letang

Olli Maatta-Matt Niskanen

Robert Bortuzzo-Deryk Engelland