PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) The Pittsburgh Penguins have been dealing with injuries all season long and are yet to play a game with a fully healthy roster.
Despite missing a multitude of players, the Penguins had found new ways to win and remain one of the top teams in the NHL.
As the team kept winning, players began to return to the lineup, and questions began to be asked if certain guys returning would mess with the chemistry of the team.
One man that was of particular interest was Evgeni Malkin.
When Geno returned from a knee injury that kept him on the shelf until Jan. 11, some had questioned if he was going to make the team worse by being on the ice.
20 games later, it's safe to say the Malkin is far from making the team worse.
As a matter of fact, Malkin might be one of the best players on the team right now and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.
Through his first 20 games, Malkin has 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points.
Tack on a pair of game winning goals Malkin has found another level to his game, despite closing in on his 36th birthday.
With Malkin out of the lineup, the Penguins power play had one of the lowest percentages in the league.
Since joining the team, Malkin has scored six power play goals and seven power play assists.
All of a sudden the Penguins have a power play to be feared at 22.22%.
Still around the middle of the pack in terms of league numbers but growing better every game.
Malkin is in the midst of a seven-game scoring streak and continues to help the Penguins win games and stay atop the Metropolitan Division.
Fans may have been told he Malkin would mess with the Penguins' chemistry, but he has proved that can't be further from the truth.
