Malkin played an important role in the 3-2 victory, setting up Carl Hagelin’s tiebreaking goal at 4:47 of the second period after notching an assist on defenseman Kris Letang’s power-play tally in the opening session. He recorded one shot and a plus-1 rating while losing all four of his faceoffs in 8 minutes, 59 seconds of ice time before being injured on a check by Columbus blue-liner Dalton Prout.
The 29-year-old Malkin has registered 27 goals and 31 assists in 57 games this season. He is one tally behind Sidney Crosby for the team lead and also ranks second behind the captain (67) with 58 points while leading the team with 11 power-play goals and sharing the top spot with Crosby for game-winners (six apiece).
Selected with the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, Malkin made his NHL debut in 2006-07, recording 33 goals and 52 assists in 78 games to claim the Calder Trophy. He netted a tally in each of his first six career games, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since 1917-18.
Malkin has eclipsed the 20-goal plateau in eight of his 10 NHL seasons and the 100-point mark three times, most recently when he notched 109 in 2011-12 to capture the second of his two Art Ross Trophies as well as the Hart Trophy. He won his first scoring title in 2009, when he posted a career-high 113 points.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder had a tremendous postseason in 2009, recording 14 goals and 22 assists in 24 games. The performance helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup while also earning Malkin the Conn Smythe Trophy.
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