Hockey Beat » evgeni malkin

Penguins Lose Malkin For 2-3 Weeks

Jeanne Dupuis — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:30:39 +0000

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to do without star player, Evgeni Malkin, for about 2-3 weeks after he suffered a shoulder strain. Coach Dan Bylsma wrote on the team’s website: “Geno is going to be out of the lineup for a couple of weeks. He strained his shoulder about 10 days or so ago. I don’t know the exact day. It is precautionary for the player. We are worried about the safety of the shoulder. A couple weeks of rest and rehab will get that thing healthy so he can get back onto the ice.”

image: TSN

Bylsma continued: “Obviously he has played with it and could gut it out, which is what Geno would be apt to do. At this time of the year the concern is the player and this is a precautionary measure.”

“I can play good, but it’s the early season,” Malkin added. “I feel good. It’s not a big problem, and I’m fine. I’ll be watching and supporting the team on the trip. It’ll be fine.”

I think this is a good idea. The team is doing well and it’s still very early in the season so I don’t see why he shouldn’t take this time to just rest the shoulder and see if the injury heals. That way, it won’t be nagging him or worsening during a time when it’s really crucial to have him in the lineup.

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Malkin Wins 2009 Art Ross Trophy

Jeanne Dupuis — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:59:12 +0000

Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin was presented with the 2009 Art Ross Trophy as the regular-season scoring leader. The young Russian player was clearly nervous as he shared a stage with Alexander Ovechkin (who was accepting the Rocket Richard award) but his English is improving.

I seriously cannot imagine getting up in a room full of people on a televised event and having to give an acceptance speech in a language that I barely know. Just think of the Oscars – most of the winners only speak English and they struggle.

To make light of the situation, Ovechkin joked Malkin "is better than Pavel Datsyuk’s English." That got some laughs!

image: NHL.com

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2009 Stanley Cup Celebration in Pictures

Jeanne Dupuis — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:58:11 +0000

Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the odds and took home Lord Stanley after thriller of a game at the Joe Louis Arena and no one can say that this team relied solely on the skills and talents of star players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They pulled together and became the 2009 Stanley Cup Champions.

It’s been almost a full day and I still can’t believe it. I will write more about some things like Marian Hossa’s decision to join up with the Detroit Red Wings to have a better chance at winning and the fact that Evgeni Malkin is now the first Russian player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy but, for now, I’m happy to just enjoy these pictures.

images: Zuma Press

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Red Wings Destroy Penguins in Game 5

Jeanne Dupuis — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:26:33 +0000

I needed a full night’s rest to write about the events that took place during Game 5 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. I thought the Detroit Red Wings might play an excellent home game, especially with Pavel Datsyuk back in the lineup, but I was not prepared for the bloodbath that I witnessed.

Critics had been questioning Detroit’s play recently with some even referring to them as “shaky” but they showed everyone that they are solid and they sent the Pittsburgh Penguins a clear message – they intend to keep Lord Stanley.

The Penguins were held scoreless in three periods while the Red Wings scored five times. I think it goes without saying that Pens netminder, Marc-Andre Fleury, looked pretty shaky between the pipes (he was eventually replaced by backup, Mathieu Garon) while his counterpart, Chris Osgood, looked solid and secured a shutout.

I’ve got to say that I was a little disappointed in both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for their conduct as the game progressed. With the team suffering, Malkin took a nasty elbowing call in the second period and then Crosby incurred a slashing penalty.

Crosby was clearly frustrated and I get that but you can’t retaliate by hitting a guy in the back of the leg when you’re the team’s leader. After that, the Penguins got themselves in all kinds of penalty trouble with six calls against them in the third period alone. When you’re wearing that “C” or even the “A” and your team is down, it’s time for you to rally and bring your guys together. They really showed a lack of class, maturity and experience last night.

Game 6 takes place on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at 8pm ET. If the Red Wings win, they will have succeeded in winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row.

images: Zuma Press

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Detroit Takes Game 2 of Stanley Cup Finals

Jeanne Dupuis — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:58:00 +0000

The Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a crushing blow as they were easily beaten by the Detroit Red Wings in Game 2 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals. The defending champions now have a 2-0 series lead.

image: newscom

First of all, I know a lot of people are not pleased by the back-to-back games in Detroit at the start of this series and I’ve got to say that I really didn’t like it much either. I’m not crying about it or blaming the scheduling for the loss but I do think it’s less than desirable at this all-important stage of the playoffs.

Of course, there was some real ugliness on the ice in the very emotional rematch between these two games and it

image: TSN

really seemed to reach the boiling point when Pittsburgh’s Maxime Talbot speared Detroit netminder, Chris Osgood, in the chest after he made a save. I know Talbot was frustrated but that was really unacceptable. Naturally, Henrik Zetterberg came to his goalie’s defence which sparked a fight with Evgeni Malkin (who got an instigator penalty but did not get the automatic suspension and will appear in Game 3). “I think in the playoffs and finals like this, there is a lot of emotions, a lot of feelings,” said Zetterberg. “When you get scrums that’s the way it is. It should be a lot of feelings, and nothing more than that.”

What do you think of the fact that Malkin won’t have to miss the next game? Judging from what I’ve seen on Twitter and blogs, many people (including a few Penguins fans) think the NHL is showing favoritism but I think TSN’s Bob McKenzie explained it best: “The intent of the rule is pretty obvious – was the action premeditated, was it sending a message. Evgeni Malkin was on the ice trying to score a goal at the end of the game. This one was born more out of frustration, then it was the Penguins trying to orchestrate some late game shenanigans, that is what the rule was put in place for and that is why the NHL reserves the right to rescind the rule if they feel the spirit of the rule is not being violated.”

I guess that’s decent reasoning but I really wonder what is going to happen with the rest of this series. I heard the commentators say that out of 32 series where a team has won the first two games, 31 have gone on to take home Lord Stanley.

I’d really like to see Pittsburgh beat the odds and turn this thing around.

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Pittsburgh Dominates Carolina in Game 3

Jeanne Dupuis — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:09:47 +0000

The Pittsburgh Penguins skated away with a massive 6-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 last night and has placed them just one win from clinching the 2009 Eastern Conference Final. However, if the past two series are any indication, the Carolina Hurricanes shouldn’t be considered defeated just yet.

image: Zuma Press

Pens captain, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin were again HUGE for their team. Thinking back to last year, I believe that a major factor in their loss was the fact that Malkin just didn’t seem able to deliver. This is, of course, a new season and it’s amazing to see what a difference a year can make. “Sid and Geno, they bring their level and they make everybody better,” right-winger Bill Guerin said. “Everyone’s talent level goes up. That’s what they do for us.” I would be inclined to agree considering how well this series has gone for the Penguins.

Carolina goaltender, Cam Ward, had another rough night since Pittsburgh outshot his team 40-34. He was able to turn away 34 shots but it just wasn’t enough. His counterpart, Marc-Andre Fleury, made 32 saves.

If they can complete the sweep on Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins will become the Eastern Conference champions for the second year in a row (they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final).

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Malkin Gets Hat Trick, Penguins Win 7-4

Jeanne Dupuis — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:18:39 +0000

Last night’s game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes began and ended with a lot of intensity. It was a bit of a busy day for me so I thought I’d put the game on while I got dinner ready and I could barely believe that, in the first 20 minutes, five goals were scored. In the end, that first period was the one that made the most sense since things got downright crazy after the break.

image: Zuma Press

Throughout the second and third periods, 16 penalties were called including a 10 minute match penalty for Carolina’s Ryan Bayda, and a matching 10 minute game misconduct for Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang. As the minutes went by and the goals kept coming, both teams just seemed to reach their boiling point. Players looked frustrated and angry but one person on the ice was celebrating.

image: Zuma Press

Evgeni Malkin had an incredible night. He got a hat trick and his parents were screaming and cheering so much in the stands that I’m sure it made it that much better. Carolina was definitely trying to get physical with him and, instead of falling apart, he channelled his energy and became unstoppable. He completed his first career playoff hat trick with a suitably amazing goal – a backhander right into the net. Incredible. Watch his three goals.

After their 7-4 victory last night, the Penguins lead the series 2-0 as they get ready to head to Carolina for games 3 (Saturday, May 23) and 4 (Tuesday, May 26). Since Carolina has been full of surprises throughout the playoffs, I’m very interested to see what they do when they’ve got home-ice advantage.

images: Zuma Press

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