PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Evgeni Malkin hasn't played this bad since maybe 2010-11, when he had 37 points in 43 games. But even in that year, the veteran had 20 points in his first 20 games.
This season, Malkin has 4 goals and 8 assists through 20 games.
"Not good again," Malkin said. "Every game I have a chance to score, my line too. I still need work. I hope I get some luck. Get a couple of goals and help the team to win."
Malkin says he has a chance to score, and needs some luck. However he took one shot on Sunday. It's the third time in 20 games he's only had one shot in a game. Twice he's had a game with zero shots.
So Malkin says he needs more luck, but in 25% of the games this year, the three-time Stanley Cup champ had a shot or less.
Malkin says he knows its close, that 'it's coming'. A veteran of 15 NHL seasons and 927 games, he says he still is excited and loves to play, especially to play hard to win.
It did appear there was some momentum growing for the second line with Bryan Rust and Jason Zucker, until Zucker's injury that has him out longer-term.
"It's not helped the team for sure that he's out long term," Malkin said of the Zucker injury. "We need to find new lines. We get chances when we play together. When three guys support each other and we talk on the ice. It's about work."
Malkin praised the work the Islanders did. Admiring how hard and simple they play. To use an old cliché it appears the Russian believes iron sharpens iron.
"It's like everyone said, it's a hard division," Malkin said. "We need to play against a hard team. If we want to win a Cup, we need to play against hard teams."
If that is what the 34-year-old wants, that is what he will get with the suddenly top end of the division Flyers at PPG Paints Arena for three straight games starting Tuesday night.
"Every game is like playoffs right now for us and for our division," Malkin said. "We can't play like this. Like the first period with zero shots. It's not our game. We can beat every team playing our game. We need work. The whole team."
