About a month ago, when things weren’t going so well – for the Penguins and especially for him - Evgeni Malkin called himself out on a couple of occasions, acknowledging that he needed to be better. Yet he was always sure to include that he felt he was getting close.
As it turns out, Malkin was spot-on and takes an 8-game point-scoring streak into tonight’s rematch against Boston at PPG Paints Arena as, not so coincidentally, the Pens go for their 7th straight win.
Casey DeSmith will be in goal after Tristan Jarry earned a night off following his 42 saves in Monday’s 4-1 win over the Bruins. Of course, DeSmith earned the start on his own, anyway, coming off Saturday’s 3-0 shutout in Buffalo and with more back-to-back games coming up in the next 8 days figures to see plenty of action.
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There was no practice this morning, but both F Jared McCann and D John Marino skated and coach Mike Sullivan says they will be game-time decisions. D Mark Friedman also skated but has been ruled out.
Meanwhile, Sullivan has no decision regarding Malkin who after a period of inconsistency is playing like the Geno that his teammates love to see, since he can carry a team.
Sidney Crosby, certainly no stranger to playing at that level, says that’s where Malkin is right now. “He’s so dominant when he has the puck it’s hard to take it from him,” Crosby marvels. “When he’s going like that there’s not much you can do to stop him. Just the way he’s carrying the puck you can tell he’s really confident.”
Sullivan says that confidence is the key. “Geno’s a guy who relies heavily on his own confidence level and he puts a lot of pressure on himself to produce offensively for our team,” Sullivan explains. “When it doesn’t go the right way, he’s harder on himself than anyone.”
But, Sullivan adds, “When a few of the pucks go in for him I think you can see his confidence build and usually his game follows.”
That’s what’s happening this month. Malkin has at least one point in each of the eight games in March, with 2 points in half of those games. In fact, all four of those 2-point games have come during the winning streak.
Evan Rodrigues took McCanns’ spot after his injury and is happy to be along for the ride. “When he’s going back for pucks in the D zone and kind of demanding the puck, the way he cuts through the middle of the ice and can fend off 2-3 guys and find open teammates it’s fun to watch,” Rodrigues says.
Malkin did just that to help set up Rodrigues’ goal Monday and now if McCann returns, Rodrigues could find himself on the fourth line tonight. But whether he is on Malkin’s line or not, Rodrigues will enjoy the Geno show.
“It’s fun to be on his side.”