Pens edge Jackets
Malkin scores twice to reach 20 goals for the 15th time By Will Graves The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Vladimir and Natalia Malkin took the long flight from Russia to Pittsburgh for the first time in several years this week. Their arrival gave their son some serious juice. Evgeni Malkin’s only wish is that they […] Vladimir and Natalia Malkin have returned from Russia to Pittsburgh for the first time in several years, their son, Evgeni Malkin, has scored twice to reach the 20-goal plateau for the 15th time, marking the 31st player in league history to score 20 goals in 15 seasons. This feat was achieved with goals from both him and his parents, who are not particularly pleased with their team's performance this season. The Penguins extended their dominance over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-2 win. Despite this, Pittsburgh remains on the edge of the Eastern Conference wild-card chase. The team is hoping for a last push in the season's final weeks to keep their playoff hopes alive.
gepubliceerd : 4 weken geleden door in Sports
PITTSBURGH — Vladimir and Natalia Malkin took the long flight from Russia to Pittsburgh for the first time in several years this week.
Their arrival gave their son some serious juice.
Evgeni Malkin’s only wish is that they could have made it back to western Pennsylvania sooner.
The Penguins star scored twice to reach the 20-goal plateau for the 15th time and Pittsburgh extended its mastery over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 3-2 win on Thursday night.
The Russian became the 31st player in league history to score 20 goals in 15 seasons, doing it with a pair of power-play blasts — one from the right circle, one from the left circle — that erased one-goal deficits, much to the delight of his parents.
“I think yeah, they give me a little bit more motivation,” Malkin said.
The Penguins will take it any way they can get it as they try to keep their dim playoff hopes alive. Pittsburgh has won two straight as it remains on the extreme fringe of the Eastern Conference wild-card chase with
The Malkins get up in the early morning hours in Magnitogorsk, Russia to watch their son play. And now, they’re not particularly thrilled with how this season has gone for the Penguins.
“They know everything,” Malkin said. “And of course not happy (with) how we play all year, I mean … they want (us to) make playoffs for sure.”
It is an unlikely prospect, though Pittsburgh is hoping for one last push in the season’s final weeks.
Drew O’Conner’s 12th goal 35 seconds into the third period put Pittsburgh in front to stay. Sidney Crosby had two assists for the Penguins to boost his career total to 995, 11th on the NHL’s career list. The longtime captain also has nine points in Pittsburgh’s last three games.
“We just need to keep going,” Crosby said. “It’s one of those things you’ve got to keep learning with every game and making sure that we’re trying to get better here.”
Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 17 shots for Pittsburgh, which improved to 21-3-2 in its last 26 meetings with the Blue Jackets.
Mathieu Olivier and Cole Sillinger scored for Columbus, which has lost six in a row.