Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been called up for Sunday's All-Star game, replacing injured team mate Sidney Crosby.

Malkin was one of five players handed a late invite for Sunday's game in Atlanta as the Eastern and Western Conference teams plugged holes left by injuries, the NHL said in a news release on Tuesday.

Anaheim pair Scott Niedermayer and Corey Perry were added to the Western Conference squad, joining Ducks team mates Chris Pronger and Ryan Getzlaf.

Malkin, who leads the Penguins with 26 goals, will have big skates to fill when he takes over from Crosby in the Eastern Conference squad.

The league's Most Valuable Player was ruled out with an ankle sprain, an injury that could keep Crosby out for up to two months.

Dallas Stars forward Mike Ribeiro was also added to the Western squad while the East called up Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas.

The other players to drop out were Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov, New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and forwards Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche and Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings.

Reuters