Malkin Apologizes to Fans; Penguins ‘Need to Stop Looking at Each Other’
He wears a letter, making him a team leader. And when he speaks publicly, Pittsburgh Penguins alternate captain Evgeni Malkin usually exhibits a good grasp of the state of the team. Not so much Tuesday. The longtime star forward was as befuddled at the team’s first month as, well, seemingly everyone else.
“It’s hard because we play up and down,” Malkin said during an interview session with reporters following practice at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
The Penguins are 6-9-2, two points from the bottom of the overall NHL standings. Many things have been frustrating and confounding, and that was perfectly illustrated over the past two games.
The Penguins played a strong game, particularly a strong third period, and Malkin scored a huge tiebreaking goal in that third, in a rousing 4-2 win Friday over the Capitals in Washington. In their next game they were pretty much a no-show Monday at home, giving up six first-period goals in a 7-1 loss against the Dallas Stars.
“We played good against Washington and then next game we were back to form. It’s weird,” Malkin said. “It’s hard to say what’s going on in the first period (Monday) night. Again, we need to fight all 60 minutes. Everybody.
“I hope we find a good direction and we still find a way to build the team. We had a good meeting with everybody.”
As is often the case with Malkin when it is warranted, he did not hold back in terms of offering some criticism.
“We need to stop looking at each other. We need to play with each other,” he said. “It’s a simple game right now. Every team plays simple, straightforward. Play in the offensive zone, behind the net, play tough. Again, this year we play a couple times when we played great games. If we play the same game every night, it’s a good chance to win.”
He knows the fans are restless.
“We need to play better at home,” Malkin said. “(Monday) night, I want to say sorry to the fans. They (deserve) a better game. I hope we together find a good way and win (Wednesday) and start building the team better.”
The Penguins are 3-4-0 at home going into a game Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.
Evgeni Malkin, 38 and a future Hall of Famer, has five goals, 18 points in the Penguins’ 17 games. He finds it difficult to assess his game, the same as the team performance.
“When we play like this, lose 7-1, everybody had a bad game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who scores one goal. It’s the same for everybody. One game we played good and my game, against Washington, I scored. I’m happy because I helped the team to win. But next game we lost 7-1. It’s a bad mood right now.
“It’s all about the team. The team wins, we feel better. Your game is better. Your confidence is better. We’re all connected together.”
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan spent a few minutes with the players gathered around him at the end of practice Tuesday. Malkin at first was reluctant to divulge what was said, but he did offer this:
“He said it’s a tough night for everybody, not just players. Coaches. Whole city probably. Today is a new day. Tomorrow is a new game. It’s time to play better at home for sure and show our best because we can play better for sure. Our group, I love it. It’s good guys here. We’re tight. We’re together.”
In fact, Malkin said the players remain upbeat about the future of the team.
“Of course,” he said. “You can’t win if you’re not optimistic. It’s a long season. How many games left? It’s 65? It’s still a long way. … Life is good. Everybody’s healthy. Why not? Just do it like we can.
“We had a good practice (Tuesday). We’ll see what’s going to happen (Wednesday). One win can change everything.”
Categorized:Penguins
Geno’s a guy that’s always seemed to have the pulse of the team. I think he’ll lead by example on Wednesday but this team is going to be up and down all year
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There are some structural issues. EK has to go. His style is not a fit with this team right now and hes not even playing good enough at his style to compensate for his weaknesses. Letang is a risky defenseman, but much less risky than EK. And one of them is enough, and we know which one we would pick. Gotta find a way to move him. Can even take a big contract back if its for the right type of player. It can be a bad contract, but it has to be for somebody that plays a ore sure… Read more »
I agree with this except trading Rackell I think he is a strong top 6
I would add to this…
Sully has to go his style isn’t working anymore he doesn’t have the players attention. Coaches have expiration dates and Sully is long past it.
Goodbye Lars, it was nice to have known you. Good luck with your new/old team!
vaya con dios, Lars Eller. save yourself. go on without me.
Eller traded to Caps for picks, what a waste… 🤨
Like Paul Steigerwald says, if you don’t spend money on the product, you are a “moron” who has no right to criticize it.
They all players do is talk
Can’t beat the good teams
Isn,t the players. Is the bad driver, I think he lost the road.
Geno’s correct they need only to look at him. He needs to retire. 2 years now clumsy stick handling turning the puck over constantly with shots on goal from it.He’s old and slow, no hussle anymore when skating. He was very good but that is in the past now.