Loose Pucks: Malkin says Koivunen 'future of team'
Evgeni Malkin returned to the Penguins' lineup for the first time since March 23 in the Penguins' 5-3 win over Stars here at the American Airlines Center, and he was met with a new winger.
Malkin resumed his spot centering the Penguins' second line, joined by a familiar face in Rickard Rakell on his right, and Ville Koivunen on his left, the latter playing in just his third NHL game.
Things went pretty well. With that line on the ice at five-on-five the Penguins out-attempted the Stars 17-9, led in unblocked attempts 13-7, and outshot them 12-5. And the best shot attempt of all in that time came from Koivunen himself. Malkin was behind the net, and found Koivunen right in front of the crease. Koivunen unleashed a quick snap shot, only to be blocked by Roope Hintz as he skated in front.
It's fair to say that Koivunen left a pretty good first impression.
"I think he's the future of the team," Malkin said. "He's amazing -- fast, smart. Every game he's been better. I think he's confident. I try to help him as much as I can, I'm happy for him."
• The game-winning goal came with a little assist from a former Penguin in Cody Ceci. Ceci collided with Thomas Harley, causing Harley to lose the puck. Danton Heinen recovered it and got it over to Blake Lizotte, who scored his 11th of the year:
• Bryan Rust scored his 200th career goal to tie the game at 3-3. It was his 28th of the season, tying his career high set last season.
"I didn't even know, to be honest," Rust said of the 200-goal milestone. "I thought I still needed one more, actually. ... It means I'm getting old, first of all. Second of all, I'm really proud. I didn't think I'd ever get to say I scored 200 goals in the NHL. When I came into this league I hoped to stick around for a couple of years. Now, here I am, 200 goals later. I'm really blessed and there's more to do."
• Sidney Crosby's hat trick was just the second the Penguins have had this season. The first came from Rust in a 9-2 in over Montreal in December.
• The hat trick was Crosby's 14th of his career, surpassing Malkin for the second-most in franchise history. Mario Lemieux, of course, leads with 40. Forty.
• Another insane stat: That was Crosby's 43rd four-point game, tying Jaromir Jagr for the second-most in franchise history. Lemieux had 124.
• Malkin and Kris Letang assisted on Crosby's first goal. Per Bob Grove, it was the 61st time in the regular season that all three have combined on the same goal. It was the 21st time Crosby has scored a goal assisted by those two.
• Rutger McGroarty saw penalty-killing time for the second straight game, playing a minute exactly shorthanded. Just like the previous game in St. Louis, the Penguins didn't allow a single shot attempt with McGroarty on the ice for the penalty-kill.
• Matt Grzelcyk had five shots on eight attempts. Rust and Crosby each also led with five shots.
• A rare night with no blocked shots for Noel Acciari. He's still sitting at 99, looking to hit the 100-block milestone for only the second time in his career.
• Tristan Jarry stopped 21 of 24 shots, allowing a hat trick to Evgenii Dadonov.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
11:37 pm - 04.05.2025DallasLoose Pucks: Malkin says Koivunen 'future of team'
Evgeni Malkin returned to the Penguins' lineup for the first time since March 23 in the Penguins' 5-3 win over Stars here at the American Airlines Center, and he was met with a new winger.
Malkin resumed his spot centering the Penguins' second line, joined by a familiar face in Rickard Rakell on his right, and Ville Koivunen on his left, the latter playing in just his third NHL game.
Things went pretty well. With that line on the ice at five-on-five the Penguins out-attempted the Stars 17-9, led in unblocked attempts 13-7, and outshot them 12-5. And the best shot attempt of all in that time came from Koivunen himself. Malkin was behind the net, and found Koivunen right in front of the crease. Koivunen unleashed a quick snap shot, only to be blocked by Roope Hintz as he skated in front.
It's fair to say that Koivunen left a pretty good first impression.
"I think he's the future of the team," Malkin said. "He's amazing -- fast, smart. Every game he's been better. I think he's confident. I try to help him as much as I can, I'm happy for him."
• The game-winning goal came with a little assist from a former Penguin in Cody Ceci. Ceci collided with Thomas Harley, causing Harley to lose the puck. Danton Heinen recovered it and got it over to Blake Lizotte, who scored his 11th of the year:
• Bryan Rust scored his 200th career goal to tie the game at 3-3. It was his 28th of the season, tying his career high set last season.
"I didn't even know, to be honest," Rust said of the 200-goal milestone. "I thought I still needed one more, actually. ... It means I'm getting old, first of all. Second of all, I'm really proud. I didn't think I'd ever get to say I scored 200 goals in the NHL. When I came into this league I hoped to stick around for a couple of years. Now, here I am, 200 goals later. I'm really blessed and there's more to do."
• Sidney Crosby's hat trick was just the second the Penguins have had this season. The first came from Rust in a 9-2 in over Montreal in December.
• The hat trick was Crosby's 14th of his career, surpassing Malkin for the second-most in franchise history. Mario Lemieux, of course, leads with 40. Forty.
• Another insane stat: That was Crosby's 43rd four-point game, tying Jaromir Jagr for the second-most in franchise history. Lemieux had 124.
• Malkin and Kris Letang assisted on Crosby's first goal. Per Bob Grove, it was the 61st time in the regular season that all three have combined on the same goal. It was the 21st time Crosby has scored a goal assisted by those two.
• Rutger McGroarty saw penalty-killing time for the second straight game, playing a minute exactly shorthanded. Just like the previous game in St. Louis, the Penguins didn't allow a single shot attempt with McGroarty on the ice for the penalty-kill.
• Matt Grzelcyk had five shots on eight attempts. Rust and Crosby each also led with five shots.
• A rare night with no blocked shots for Noel Acciari. He's still sitting at 99, looking to hit the 100-block milestone for only the second time in his career.
• Tristan Jarry stopped 21 of 24 shots, allowing a hat trick to Evgenii Dadonov.
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