By Michael Farber, SI.com
Evgeni Malkin obviously has hit a wall. The only question is whether the Pittsburgh Penguins dynamic center, who has a measly assist in the past three games of the Eastern Conference final, has crashed into the same wall of fatigue that derailed him so violently in the playoffs last season or the picket fence that the Philadelphia Flyers prepared for him.
Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien gently scoffed at the notion that Malkin is bushed, considering that the Penguins have played a mere 13 games in the five or so weeks since the start of the playoffs, a testament to their efficiency, talent, robust health and, yes, the softness of the conference. Unlike last spring when the rookie was a cipher in the first-round series against Ottawa after the longest year of his career physically and psychologically -- he did manage to arouse himself, Lazarus-like, a week or so later in the world championships in Moscow -- exhaustion hardly seems a plausible excuse for his recent rough patch.
If fatigue is out, rule the Flyers back in.
Consider Pittsburgh's first power play in their 4-2 loss in Game 4 in Philadelphia when the Flyers lined up four across the blue line as the Penguins tried to gain the offensive zone. You always can try to stickhandle through the traffic. You can, of course, also stick a knife in a plugged-in toaster. The only safe, reasonable play is to flip the puck over the defenders and win it back the along the end boards, something a team should be able to do most of the time when it is playing five-on-four. But since the days of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr, those delicate dump-ins haven't been Pittsburgh's style. (Those Penguins would have tried to stickhandle against a conga-line.)
Malkin inherited some of the same skill and the same hubris from his Pittsburgh forebears, falling into the trap that the Flyers set for him. Even the spectacular Russian, who kept turning the puck over, can't dangle his way through that much rush-hour traffic.
Malkin is also being hit more often and insistently than he was during the regular season. He's the designated whipping boy for the aggressive Flyers. In Game 2, he seemed to shy away from taking a check and rushed a flat pass across the middle of the ice that Mike Richards, arch-nemesis of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, turned into a short-handed goal. While Crosby seems to thrive in the give-and-take jousting and facewashes -- he will win multiple Hart Trophies in his career but not one Lady Byng -- Malkin doesn't come with the same thick veneer.
Of course, the Flyers' also targeted the only player taken ahead of Malkin in the 2004 draft and neutralized Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin for part of their first-round series. The difference is that Ovechkin eventually roared back, bursting loose from the Philadelphia shackles in a riveting series that went to a Game 7 overtime. Malkin needs that kind of bold performance in Game 5 on Sunday.
Therrien probably should have played an inspired Jordan Staal rather than Malkin with Crosby and Marian Hossa late in Game 4 after the Penguins had sliced the Flyers' lead to a goal, but it is hard to argue for suddenly benching one of the playoffs leading scorers and ditching an end-game stratagem that the coach has been using for two seasons. For Therrien, whose team is a game away from playing for the Cup, this is still business as usual.
"They're doing a good job right now to contain him," Therrien said in a conference call on Friday. "It's going to be up to Evgeni Malkin to make sure he's going to be productive offensively."
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Comments (23) Add A Comment
Just saw an press interview with Timmonen, and he says he is out of medical danger. It is just a matter of pain, but with pain meds, looks like he will play. Malkin now will REALLY need to produce.
Otto Partz
Total Comments (36)
Wow two bad games and that means he's to tired to play, huh? Interesting, I was kind of thinking that Philly was doing a good job checking him.
fleckpsu06
Total Comments (168)
Go figure, a superstar that has carried a team on his shoulders for the past few months has had one assist in the last three games, lets totally ignore his play in game one and also lets ignore the fact that it's a team game. Maybe Philly is actually keeping him in check. Coincidence that when Malkin's numbers go down, Crosby's seem to go up. The Pens have lost two games the entire playoffs, this series is 3-1 and Philly has its backs against the wall. Malkin is a bigtime player who produces when he is needed. He isn't tired, he's resting for what's next!!!!!
Sportsguy24/7
Slippery Rock, PA
Total Comments (17)
please give some credit to the flyers checking. while it may be too late for the flyers the heavy hitting might be the reason malkin isnt putting up the points. we saw crosby shy away from a scoring opp. near the flyers crease last nite. if the pens take this series, it wont get any easier with the monster from the west waiting for them. my question is how can pitts. keep their big 3 and maintain solid roster under the cap?
I am the Walrus
Pennsville , NJ
Total Comments (84)
Its's simple really. Malkin is being hit hard by the flyers, especially after Malkin's intentional elbow, Malkin knows he is a target. It definitely threw him off his game. Simple as that one point you pointed out Mr. Farber. As Therrien said, Malkin has to produce offensively. And he is right. I think as Malkin matures in the NHL, it will affect him less and less. And it definitely is not fatigue.
Otto Partz
Total Comments (36)
Why is it when the penguins lose one game you sports writers get all excited? Come on now. It is one loss. Did you watch the last period? Seems to me the Penguins were by far the better team. Malkin may not be scoring but he still is making beautiful moves and passes.
togocats
Total Comments (152)
That just sounds like an Excuse to me. Can't wait for game 5, it should be real interesting! Lets Go Flyers!!!
phillyboysfan81
Levittown , PA
Total Comments (33)
No slump for Malkin, check the numbersall season, better at home than on the road. He returns to dominance tomorrow and Philly's season is done.
phillysuksgonads
Huntington Beach , CA
Total Comments (2)
The Flyers are pounding Malkin, Crosby and just about every other skill played the Penguins have. When is Therrien going to turn loose Big George Laraque on Darian Hatcher and his henchmen?
Old Mustang
Total Comments (4)
The Flyers are pounding Malkin, Crosby, and any other skill players the Penguins send out. When is Therrien going to turn Big George Laraque loose on Darian Hatcher and his henchmen?
Old Mustang
Total Comments (4)
I assume the writer feels the need to find something negative to write. Last time I looked the Pens were cruising through the playoffs.
Joe2003
Titusville , PA
Total Comments (1)
Non-story. It would be one thing if they were down 1-3 and Malkin was having an off series, but it's only a couple of games, and Malkin's drawing enough attention that others are free or have matchups that have put enough pucks past Biron to have a comfortable 3-1 lead.
And why not lump Umberger and Briere into this article? After all, they've certainly had significant drop offs from their earlier playoff production now, haven't they?
The bottom line is, this is a tough, physical series. The Pens aren't playing the Senators, and the Flyers aren't playing the Capitals anymore. Normally potent offensive players are going to have a quiet game or two from a stats scoring standpoint. It's simple reality.
perfect360
Pittsburgh , PA
Total Comments (989)
As much as I hate to admit it, Philly deserves some credit for a finally playing well. However, it will take a miracle for them to win tonight - Malkin or not. The Pen's played stupid hockey early in Game 5. Therrien will not allow that to happen again.
Joe2003 - I agree with you 100%. Farber makes it sound like Pittsburgh is at world's end and has never liked Lemieux, Jagr, etc. Last time I checked, they had the best record in the playoffs and Philly is win-or-go-home...
davidej
Pittsburgh , PA
Total Comments (98)
This is an example of a writer with nothing to write. They lose one game and they are done, eh? You guys said the same thing in the last series.
togocats
Total Comments (152)
gassed huh?
conch
Total Comments (61)
It is called the flu. Malkin , Sykora and Roberts are all sick. Doesn't matter though against these hacks.
The Pens looked gassed today, huh? That writer is a clueless fool. Flyers were overmatched in this series. Pens played one lousy game (correction: one lousy period) and let them have a sniff of success. Even though Flyer fans and the media tried to hype the Flyers "comeback" to help keep the ratings up, the Phlyers had no shot. Dismissed.
PensCup08
Phoenixville , PA
Total Comments (4)
Farber..........You are an idiot!!!!! I am gassed from watching a 6-0 shutout. I will never read your expert opinion agian. LET'S GO PENS........
Larry The Yankee
Total Comments (9)
Wow! The Pens REALLY looked gassed today...6-0...they are worn out! LOL
GO PENS!
Ben's girl
Magnolia , OH
Total Comments (5)
It's called an "illness".
Amazing that writers actually get money for this kind of "reporting". Did you actually think that Therrien and Co were going to announce to the world that a number of Pens were sick with the flu that is going around?
And if Malkin's play recent play warrants a "what is wrong"...I'm sure there are dozens of hockey players who would LOVE to have this "wrong".
T Rocks
Mysterious, PA
Total Comments (2574)
wow... I couldn't believe this article when I got back to my office today. Perhaps a little retraction might be in order in your column today... what a pathetic attempt at reporting
PittBeatWVU
Coraopolis , PA
Total Comments (5)
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