Our Pittsburgh Penguins have less than 20 games remaining in the regular season. They're battling for playoff position in the tough Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. Many players have had a hand in helping the Pens defend their Stanley Cup championship. Of course, there is the stuPENSdous play of C Sidney Crosby, who is challenging for the scoring title and could be on his way to another MVP award. There is also the Norris-worthy play of D Justin Schultz. G Matt Murray should be in consideration for the Calder Trophy for league Rookie of the Year. These are just a few of the players who have exhibited outstanding play throughout the season. However, Mrs. Black-N-Gold feels there is one player who has helped put the team on his back and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Crosby, Conner McDavid and Patrick Kane. That man is Evgeni Malkin.
Mrs. Black-N-Gold has never hid the that Geno is my homeboy. Yes, Mrs. Black-N-Gold owns a pair of #87 earrings but her Pens jersey says "Malkin" on it. While others were running around with Sid and Fleury and Letang shirts, Mrs. Black-N-Gold put her hard-earned, cold cash down on #71. I'm a Geno girl through and through and I'll tell you why.
I was going to call this piece "Ode to Geno" but the word "ode" means poem. Mrs. Black-N-Gold started a poem that went "Oh Geno, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind". Not very original, is it? And Geno deserves better because he is a true original. Let me tell you why.....
The Penguins drafted Evgeni Malkin with the 2nd overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Russia. Due to obligations to his Russian team, Malkin didn't make his Black-N-Gold debut until September 20, 2006. But once his NHL career began, there was no stopping him. Geno began his career by scoring in each of his first 6 games, setting a modern NHL record. From there, the Russian Bear just got better, winning the Calder Trophy for best rookie performance. Apart from Mario Lemieux, Geno is the only other Penguins player to win the award. Throughout his prestigious career he's also won the Art Ross Trophy, twice, as the NHL points leader. He won the Conn Smythe for most valuable player during the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs. He's got a Hart Trophy and a Ted Lindsay award on his resume. Geno has all been named an NHL 1st team All-Star 3 times in his career. He serves as a Penguins alternate captain and has helped the team win 2 Stanley Cups.
At 30 years old, you'd think the big Russian would be winding down, but that's not Geno's style. He's still producing at a prolific pace. For the season, he's tied for 2nd in the league with 70 points. He's connected on 31 goals and 39 assists. He's powerful on the power play as well, with 10 goals and 12 assists with the man-advantage. In his last 6 games, he's put up 10 points, 6 goals and 4 assists. #71 has helped stake the Pens to a 41-16-8 mark, good for 90 points and 2nd place in the ultra-competitive Metro Division. Yes, Malkin is on a mission to make more milkshakes and lead the Pens to a 2nd consecutive Cup.
What do all the numbers add up to? It must be at least 101, as in the fact that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and his boys left Geno off he NHL 100, in honor of the league's 100th anniversary. Really? You have the audacity to omit a sure-Hall of Famer like Geno from your 100 best players? He also puts his fellow countryman, Alex Ovechkin, to shame. That's O-vechkin. Same as 0 Stanley Cups. That's why Evgeni Malkin is, and always will be, The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Go, Go, Geno! Let's Go Pens!!!!
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