Penguins-Islanders: Malkin, Crosby Combine for Seven Points as Pens Defeat Isles

This recap is dedicated to Badger Bob Johnson, who passed on 17 years ago today after leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to their first Stanley Cup. Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby combined for seven points, as the Penguins defeated the New York Islanders 5-3 Wednesday night. If you were ever in a heated debate about why Evgeni Malkin is the best player in the National Hockey League right now and had trouble defending your position, fear not. Gino just gave you enough evidence to win that argument for the rest of your life. Tonight against the Isles, Malkin played the best 60 minutes of hockey he has played this season—and, possibly, the best 60 minutes of hockey in his career. He had a hat trick and added an assist, but he was a force in so many other ways. He was killing penalties. He had two shorthanded scoring chances. He was tracking the puck in the defensive zone, like Scott Hartnell tracking a little boy in downtown Philadelphia. Everywhere you looked tonight, number 71 in white ... (link)