Malkin's parents get assist on his two-goal night vs. Blue Jackets

It's been quite some time since Evgeni Malkin's parents, Vladimir and Natalia, have had the opportunity to make their annual pilgrimage from Magnitogorsk, Russia, to Pittsburgh to watch their son play.

The pair last made the nearly 20-hour journey in 2019, with COVID restrictions and visa issues preventing them from coming over for the next four years. They stuck to their usual routine back home of waking up at around 3 a.m. local time so they could stream Malkin's games.

"They watch every game," Malkin explained. "They know everything."

The Penguins' Thursday night game against the Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena marked Vladimir and Natalia's return to Pittsburgh to finally see a game in-person again. Whether they were a pair of good luck charms, or their presence was simply a boost for Malkin mentally, it paid off. Malkin's two power-play goals helped lead the Penguins past the Blue Jackets, 3-2.

"I know how it works," Malkin said afterward. "It probably gives me a little bit more emotion, and it's working. I'm so mad they didn't come in late October or November. ... Next year, I hope they stay all year."

He was joking about being mad they didn't get here earlier ... kind of. It's been a tough year for Malkin. Between the team being out of a playoff spot and his own play taking a bit of a back this season, it would have been nice for Malkin to get to see his parents more in-season for his own sake, whether they brought that boost or not. And he knows how much his parents enjoy being at games.

"We talked before the game tonight, and they were so excited," Malkin said. "They want to watch a live game, finally. Of course, they're not happy like how we played all year. I mean, the team, they want us to make playoffs, for sure."

Malkin was motivated to made their trip worthwhile. After Mathieu Olivier scored first for the Blue Jackets in the second period, Malkin responded four and a half minutes later on the man advantage with a rocket of a one-timer from the right circle set up by Kris Letang to tie it:

"I want to say thanks to Tanger," said Malkin of that goal. "He gave me lots of good passes. He gave it to me slow where I like it, because we've played together for like, 17 years. He knows where I like it, a slow pass, and it worked tonight."

Malkin's mother leapt out of her seat for that goal, fist-bumping the fans and other friends and family members of players in celebration.

When Cole Sillinger regained the lead for Columbus later in the second period, it only took Malkin three minutes to respond with another power-play goal that beat Columbus goaltender Daniil Tarasov, this time finishing off a pass from Sidney Crosby:

"I think he was just looking for a shot or looking for a pass, and then was able to get a shot off and find the back of the net," Crosby said. "So, just a smart play by him just to do it."

The videoboard cut to Natalia and Vladimir in the stands after that second goal, and that excitement Malkin talked about was clear on their faces:

Drew O'Connor later scored the game-winner 35 seconds into the third period, and Alex Nedeljkovic held on for 17 saves to earn the win. 

Yeah, it was against the Blue Jackets, who rank last in the Eastern Conference by a 10-point margin. This was a game they should have won. Regardless, for Malkin to have the performance he did was a nice boost to his confidence. It was only his third multi-goal game of the season, and his first since the 7-0 blowout of the Islanders back on Dec. 27. He had only three power-play goals all season prior to Thursday, with his last one coming on Dec. 30. That was 37 consecutive games that followed without a single goal on the power play, with only four power-play assists in that time. He was shooting the puck often in this one too, with his five shots on goal leading the team and finishing one shot shy of his season-high.

In speaking about Malkin's night, Crosby said that his parents' presence "probably has something to do with it."

"You know, I think the fact that they haven't been here in at least three or four years, I'm sure that motivated him tonight to have them here," Crosby said. "I know it would for all of us. I think you could definitely see it with the jump and energy that he had, and hopefully they're here for awhile."

Letang, obviously, knows Malkin pretty well, too. And he wanted to make clear that he's seen that motivation from Malkin all season from within himself, and he deserves the credit.

"We're hockey players, you know?" Letang told me. "Obviously for the mind, (having Malkin's parents here) is pretty good. I don't know if he comes to the rink with a better mindset, but I think with Geno, every time he comes to the rink he plays with the mindset that he wants to score and help his team win. It just happened to be tonight."

Either way, Malkin's teammates will be pleased to learn that his parents are indeed sticking around for awhile. Malkin said that his parents will be in town "for the end of the season, for sure. ... And I hope playoffs."

The Penguins aren't quite out of the race yet. With the two points from this win they leapfrogged the Sabres in the standings, now leaving only four teams and seven points separating them from a playoff position. Another game against the lowly Blue Jackets on Saturday, plus games next week against two of the other teams in the hunt in the Devils and Capitals, as well as a game against the Rangers, provide opportunities to further close the gap. It's unlikely that they get in, but it's not yet out of the question.

It might be too little, too late. But if Malkin can build off this win, it could go a long way toward the Penguins making one last late push for the postseason.