Pittsburgh Penguins fans expressed dissatisfaction with Evgeni Malkin as the star center played a central role in the team’s third-period struggles and a disappointing 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.
Malkin himself acknowledged his subpar performance, stating, “It was a tough loss, a not-great third period. It wasn’t my best game.” Despite the recent challenges, Malkin emphasized focusing on the upcoming games, saying, “My focus is on tomorrow and the next game.” While Malkin has been productive in terms of points this season, contributing to the Penguins’ first goal in the mentioned game, defensive lapses led to two of Vegas’s third-period goals.
Both coach Mike Sullivan and Malkin refrained from praising his recent play, with Sullivan noting, “Some of the inconsistencies in his game are more without the puck and trying to do too much.” Sullivan emphasized the importance of Malkin sticking to his role and not attempting to do too much on the ice, stating, “When he tries to do too much, that’s when we get caught in between.”
Malkin’s linemate Reilly Smith has struggled with scoring, and new linemate Drew O’Connor has shown progress. However, Malkin’s line is still finding it challenging to match the impact of top-line center Sidney Crosby. Despite Malkin’s elite offensive ability, Sullivan stressed the need for diligence in his play away from the puck.
Malkin, who is 37, acknowledged the fluctuating nature of his recent performances, stating, “My game has been up and down.” He candidly admitted the need for improvement, expressing a desire to maintain a consistent level of play in every game. While age was not explicitly mentioned by Malkin or Sullivan, there is acknowledgement of the changing dynamics in Malkin’s playing style.
In reflecting on his recent performance, Malkin revealed his self-assessment, stating, “I need to play better in every game. I want to stay at the same level every game, not like one game good, three games bad.” Despite the challenges, Malkin remains determined to give his best effort in each game and will assess his condition for the upcoming matches.
