Malkin puts on quite a show in his return

By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
Sunday, April 04, 2010

Evgeni Malkin feels good.

The Penguins feel good.

Isn't it amazing how that works?

Atlanta Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg comes out to stop Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, right, of Russia,as he skates during the second period of the NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 3, 2010. (AP)

With a mere six words Saturday -- "I feel fresh ... I feel good" -- Malkin captured the absolute best part of the Penguins' 4-3 overtime win against the Atlanta Thrashers at Mellon Arena. Playoff time is near, and your favorite defending Stanley Cup champions clearly need a healthy Malkin to make a big run at another title. After missing five games in a row and seven of the past eight because of a right foot injury, he showed the 157th consecutive sellout crowd in the old building that he is ready. He was, simply, the best player on the ice.

No wonder there were so many smiles in the Penguins' room after the game.

"For sure," teammate Max Talbot said, "we're going to need him."

Malkin wasn't the Conn Smythe winner as playoffs MVP last season for nothing, you know?

Here's the best part:

There's a feeling among the Penguins that Malkin will be even better this spring because of his foot injury.

Seriously.

It makes sense if you think about it. Malkin -- like teammates Sidney Crosby, Brooks Orpik and Sergei Gonchar -- has played a ton of hockey the past three years because of the Olympics in February and trips to the Cup final the previous two seasons. Blocking a shot by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang with his foot in a game against Tampa Bay March 14 might not have been exactly what the team doctor ordered. But the rest that followed could turn out to be a wonderful thing for him.

"You never want to miss games with an injury," Gonchar said. "But, at the same time, you have to take advantage of it. It can help you in the playoffs. It can be a plus."

Or, as Talbot put it, "That jump he had today, that's the proof. Did you see it? He was amazing. He gave a performance that just totally dominated the game."

A bit of a run-in in the second period with Thrashers fossil Chris Chelios helped. Malkin ended up in the scrum after Atlanta winger Chris Thorburn put a hard lick on Orpik along the boards. Chelios -- 48, honest to goodness -- grabbed Malkin's sweater, pulled it over his head and pulled it right off, much to Malkin's annoyance. The two barked at each other on the way to their benches.

Forty-two seconds later, Malkin took a pass from teammate Alex Goligoski on the power play and blasted the puck by Thrashers goaltender Johan Hedberg before Hedberg could react. Talk about a goal that must have felt extra nice. Chelios has been around long enough to know you shouldn't make Malkin mad.

Malkin easily could have had a hat trick if not for Hedberg, who played a strong game before allowing a weak goal to Penguins defenseman Jordan Leopold in overtime. Malkin also made a beautiful play to set up Gonchar for the tying power-play goal with 1:14 left in regulation. He fairly flew up the left wing, pushing Thrashers center Marty Reasoner and defenseman Ron Hainsey back, back, back, almost out of the arena, before leaving a sweet drop pass for Gonchar, who banged a one-timer past a screened Hedberg.

That Malkin and Gonchar, who missed the previous four games because of strep throat, made such a difference on a Penguins power play that has struggled so badly shouldn't come as a surprise. The two missed the same game 11 times this season. In those games, the power play was 2 for 43 (4.6 percent). In the 58 games they both played, it's 45 for 222 (20.2).

That's dramatic stuff.

Malkin's value to the Penguins never has seemed greater. In the 14 games he sat out this season because of the foot injury and an earlier shoulder problem -- the first significant time he missed after playing in 242 of 246 games before this season -- the team went 5-8-1 and averaged just 2.14 goals per game. The great Crosby was a much lesser player without him. In those 14 games, Crosby had just two goals and seven assists. In the 63 games they have played together, he has 45 goals and 43 assists. That's a difference of 0.64 points per game vs. 1.4 per game. More than twice as much.

Again, dramatic stuff.

"He's a great player," Gonchar said of Malkin. "You kind of expect this from him every night."

Especially at this time of year.

"It's been a long season," Talbot said, "but we all know the importance of what's coming up."

Malkin knows, for sure.

A guess?

He can't wait to make up for lost time.

Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com. Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.