Malkin Returns On Top

Evgeni Malkin's preseason play is only a sight of things to come this season. By Frank Smith. 

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

     Despite missing the Pittsburgh Penguins last 39 games with a torn ACL and MCL, Evgeni Malkin has proved this preseason that he is hands down, the hottest player of the NHL‘s Atlantic Division.
     Malkin has kept his place as a surefire scoring threat throughout the preseason, accumulating three goals and four assists in only four games. 
     Staying true to EP’s prediction that the Pittsburgh Penguins will dominate the Atlantic this season, we believe Malkin will record at least 100 points this season. 


     Across the state in Philadelphia, Flyer forward Claude Giroux has also scored seven points thus far, but he is far less of a scoring threat than Geno. Joining Giroux on the wing will be Jaromir Jagr, returning to the NHL after playing three seasons in the Continental Hockey League. Together, Jagr and Giroux will make a great line and the Flyers will surely be a force again this season, but the well-rounded scoring attack of Malkin and the Penguins will be harder to stop.
     Geno’s role will no doubt be immense with Sidney Crosby still nursing a concussion. The Penguins placed Crosby on the injury reserve Monday. Until Crosby returns, Malkin will need to take the bulk of the offense for the Pens. 
     If Malkin’s preseason performance as of yet is foreshadowing for his regular season play, he will be in contention for the Hart Trophy and have the Penguins in the chase for their fourth Stanley Cup.


News and notes from around the Atlantic:

• The New Jersey Devils ended their preseason successfully with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night. The Devils finished the preseason with a 3-3 record while the Flyers look eager for meaningful games, ending at 4-2-1. The two face off Saturday in New Jersey. 
• The Pittsburgh Penguins kick off their season Thursday at Vancouver, but they will be without captain Sidney Crosby as he still recuperates from his January 6 concussion. Though he has been skating with the team since the middle of September, there is no set return date.
• In Europe, the New York Rangers captured their third preseason victory across the pond with a 4-1 win over HC Slovan Bratislava. The Rangers will travel to Stockholm, Sweden to open the season against the Los Angeles Kings Friday. 
• The New York Islanders ended their preseason with a loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins, 3-2. In the neutral site game held in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the Islanders came out hot with a 2-0 lead, but could not hold on. Boston’s Tim Thomas had 25 saves.