PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 11, 2008
The Penguins' Evgeni Malkin celebrates his second-period goal agianst the Flyers with Petr Sykora and Ryan Malone at Mellon Arena.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
Nice going, NBC.
That network decided a few weeks back not to broadcast the Penguins' 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday -- presumably because the game did not feature injured captain and top ratings draw Sidney Crosby.
Too bad, because the latest installment of Pennsylvania's frozen feud featured a made-for-TV coming out party by Evgeni Malkin, who is closing fast on Crosby for consideration as "world's greatest hockey player."
"Basically, he is one of the best players in the NHL," left wing Petr Sykora said of Malkin, who scored his 31st goal and recorded three assists to fuel the Penguins' first victory in five meetings against the Flyers this season.
Sykora helped, too, scoring a goal and assisting on two others, as he has racked up 20 points in 17 games.
A franchise record 41st consecutive sellout crowd joyously watched as Malkin attempted to chase down league-leading scorer Alexander Ovechkin in one afternoon.
Ovechkin scored a goal and recorded two assists to help the Washington Capitals defeat the New York Rangers yesterday. He holds a three-point lead on Malkin -- 76 to 73 -- as the friendly Russian rivals attempt to dethrone Crosby as the scoring champion.
"I'm going to try," Malkin said, through an interpreter, on the possibility of winning the Art Ross Trophy. "I'm not thinking about that just because it's Ovechkin."
The Penguins' Jarkko Ruutu fights with Flyers' Steve Downie in the first period at Mellon Arena Sunday.
Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review
The Flyers thought long and hard about attempting to contain Malkin, figuring it was their best chance to win a fifth consecutive game against the Penguins.
"He's a world-class player and a big concern," Philadelphia coach John Stevens said. "He does so many things raw. He's a passionate hockey player."
Malkin helped the Penguins erase a 1-0 deficit by setting up Sykora's 18th goal at 16:20 of the opening period and defenseman Sergei Gonchar's ninth tally 38 seconds into the second.
Gonchar's goal provided the Penguins a lead against the Flyers for the first time this season -- a span of 260 minutes and 38 seconds.
Almost 17 minutes after his landlord finally put the Penguins ahead in this series, Malkin extended the lead at 18:43. He capped his offensive outburst with another assist -- each primary -- on rookie defenseman Kris Letang's fourth goal at 12:14 of the third period.
Malkin has scored seven goals and recorded 20 points in 10 games since Crosby was lost with a high right ankle sprain Jan. 18. The Penguins are 6-2-2 in those games.
Their latest victory was the sweetest for Malkin, who has adopted a disgust for the Penguins' fiercest rival.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71)knocks Philadelphia Flyers' Mike Richards to the ice in the second period of NHL hockey action at Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
"That is one team that is not really a pleasure to play against. When we play (in Philadelphia), we have problems -- like people throwing popcorn on the bench," Malkin said. "I don't like that team. It is something a little bit extra than playing other teams."
Malkin was told the Flyers probably did not think highly of him after his four-point performance helped the Penguins maintain first place in the Atlantic Division and move four points ahead of Philadelphia.
"That's good," Malkin said.
Rob Rossi can be reached at rrossi@tribweb.com or 412-380-5635.
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