Penguins Update: Malkin Leads the Way

Thus far, the 2015-16 season hasn’t been especially kind to the Penguins. Or their stars.

Sidney Crosby? With points in each of his past five games—including a two-goal night against St. Louis—Sid’s on a bit of a roll. Yet our captain’s producing at a rate well below his customary clip.

Kris Letang? Sans the steadying presence of Paul Martin, “Tanger’s” reverted to his ’13-14 form. The two-time All-Star’s a club-worst minus-14 with a team-high 19 giveaways.

Newcomer Phil Kessel—while hardly a flop—hasn’t quite filled the net as expected. Indeed, aside from goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, only one member of the Pens’ elite is thriving. Evgeni Malkin.

Since snapping a mysterious goalless drought that spanned 18 regular-season games, “Geno’s” been reborn. Especially of late. Over his past six outings the former scoring champ’s piled up 10 points—including seven goals. Among them two of this season’s prettiest: a dazzling toe-drag tally against Minnesota and last Saturday’s supernatural spin-o-rama backhander that left even the most veteran observers gasping in bewildered awe.

The rangy Russian leads the team in virtually every offensive category: goals (11), points (22), power-play goals (six), and game-winners (six). He’s tied with Kessel for the most even-strength tallies (five). Arguably the club’s toughest player, he’s tops in penalty minutes, too.

Malkin displayed his moxie during last Friday’s heated 2-1 overtime defeat in Columbus. While the rest of the black and gold shrank in the wake of Brandon Dubinsky’s brutal crosscheck on Crosby, No. 71 made a statement. He dropped the mitts with husky Jackets defender Jack Johnson.

A response befitting a leader. And make no mistake. The Magnitogorsk native’s emerged as a leader. Crosby is the Pens’ heart and soul. But Malkin’s the emotional core. The conscience.

It was Geno who called out his teammates a couple of weeks ago for a deplorable lack of effort against New Jersey. And it was Malkin who promptly exploded for a pulsating four-point performance versus the Wild to pave the way to victory.

“He’s one of our leaders in here,” said veteran Pascal Dupuis. “Not only by the way he can say stuff in the room but by the way he plays on the ice.”