Malkin leads Pens past Wild

After the game against the New Jersey Devils Evgeni Malkin made it quite clear what he thought of the team at the point. It was very clearly pointed out that they were not playing as they should be and not playing right in the system set up by Johnston. Whether that system is right or not is another question.

Against the Minnesota Wild Malkin delivered on his words and led the Pens to a 4-3 win with a four point night. It was his first four point game since the 23rd March 2014. The Penguins started the game superbly notching an early goal from David Perron on a nice pirouette shot. The Wild scored later on in the first to level the game. The puck was passed across the crease in front of Fleury and none of the forwards picked it up allowing Granlund to fire off a sweet shot off a Pominville dish.

The later part of the first period was beset by penalties on each side. Clendening committed a holding penalty on Brett Bulmer shortly after they scored but the Penguins were able to kill it off. The Penguins then had a power play opportunity of their own late on in the period. The power play has been poor but it was great to see some success for a change. Malkin dished a puck to Bennett just in front of the face-off zone and he rifled a shot straight through Dubnyk.

The Penguins continued to click on the power play with Malkin scoring an easy goal early in the second. Malkin earned his second goal of the game shortly after. Later in the game the usually resilient Penguins penalty kill blustered letting in two Minnesota power play goals from Jared Spurgeon and Mikko Koivu.

The game was overshadowed somewhat though by an injury sustained by Olli Maatta mid-way through the second period. Nino Neiderreiter boarded Maatta into the boards near the bench as Darcy Kuemper was opening the door by the bench. Maatta was taken to hospital and was today released with news that he would be out for between 3 to 4 weeks. It could have been a lot worse but losing a talented player like Maatta for any stretch of time in the early stages of their career is disappointing.

The Penguins will be pleased to win but disappointed at losing such a key player. They play Colorado next on Thursday night hoping to build another winning run.