Penguins Preview: Evgeni Malkin's Shot at Breakout
The Pittsburgh Penguins hope to shake their losing ways against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are hitting rock bottom as the trade deadline approaches. After being challenged by management to give them a reason to be buyers, the Penguins seem poised to sell. Back home, the team hopes to get back in the win column. Here’s what to watch as the Penguins face the Columbus Blue Jackets.
1. Home Sweet Home
After a road trip that all but sealed their playoff-less fate, the Penguins must be overjoyed to return home. While they’ve been a sub-.500 team away from Pittsburgh, they’ve been much improved in their arena. The Pens are 15-10-4 at PPG Paints Arena, including back-to-back wins on home ice. With the Blue Jackets in town, the Penguins need to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and secure two points.
2. Player Swaps
Not only is this a divisional matchup between the Jackets and Penguins, but it’s also a chance for new arrivals to face their former teams. The two organizations swapped depth forwards recently, and the Penguins landed Emil Bemstrom in exchange for Alex Nylander.
Both players appear to be better fits in their new organizations. Nylander has four goals in five games with Columbus, and Bemstrom has a goal in five appearances in the black and gold. Facing their former teams for the first time, don’t be surprised if both players find their way onto the scoresheet.
3. Malkin Ends Goalless Streak
The Penguins’ loss in Edmonton was an utter failure, but the lone positive came from Evgeni Malkin. He broke out of his 13-game goalless slump to end the Oiler’s shutout bid. It's been a disappointing season by Geno's standards, but he's still producing. With his 17th tally of the season, he brought his season point total to 46 points in 59 games. The Penguins are desperate and need more scoring. Can Malkin find a late-season offensive surge?
The Penguins and Blue Jackets face off at 7:00 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena.
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