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PHN EXTRA: Malkin Talks Playing With Kessel, ‘Coach Little Bit Upset’

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Pittsburgh Penguins, Phil Kessel, Evgeni Malkin, Beau Bennett
Evgeni Malkin: Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

For the first time since last season, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel spoke to Pittsburgh media, Sunday. While their comments will not create any controversy, they did acknowledge their fondnessĀ for playing together but their need to play to play better in the defensive zone. And how their play affected head coach Mike Sullivan. The pair dropped several on reporters who used every available moment to get to the bottom of several stories which remained unaddressed since the Penguins playoff defeat last May.

Neither Kessel or Malkin admitted to requesting to play together, but Malkin acknowledged they have to improve their 200-foot game to make it a permanent thing.

“I like playing with him for sure. We understand each other.Ā Defensively, we need to play better. I think coach (Mike Sullivan) was a little bit upset when we play together,” Malkin said. He continued about the situation,

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