Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
No one is playing better hockey than Sidney Crosby these days. But even he was in awe and just trying to keep up with a teammate who was the best player on the ice Monday night.
Evgeni Malkin tied a career high with five points, Crosby extended his scoring streak to 21 games with a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 6-1.
“He was playing unbelievable,” Crosby said of Malkin. “It’s really fun to see a teammate take over a game like that and when he is playing like that, I think he pushes everyone to raise their level. I was just trying to keep up with him and make sure that I was there to create things when he was open.”
Kris Letang had a goal and an assist and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for Pittsburgh, which won for the first time in three games since having a 12-game winning streak snapped.
Malkin, who had three goals in two games since returning from missing four contests due to a knee injury, had two goals and three assists Monday – all within the first 27:21 of the game.
“For Sidney Crosby to shake his head a little bit and say wow is a unique thing,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said.
What’s scary for the rest of the NHL is that Pittsburgh’s winning streak came with Malkin either out of the lineup or at less than 100 percent due to a left knee that has bothered him through much of the early part of the season.
Malkin had only eight goals in 26 games before his recent tear but declared himself “close to 100” percent now, partially aided by a rare four-day break between games for the Penguins.
Crosby’s point streak is the longest in the NHL this season, one short of the longest since the 2004-05 lockout and trailing only two streaks by Mario Lemieux in franchise history.
Crosby assisted on Malkin’s goals in a span of 86 seconds of game time bridging the first intermission. The first came directly off a faceoff in the Phoenix end, Crosby duping wing Lauri Korpikoski after Vernon Fiddler was thrown from the draw, winning the faceoff forward, lunging and feeding a wide-open Malkin for a one-timer.
Just 51 seconds into the second, Malkin again was fed by Crosby while wide open in the slot when Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle tripped behind his own net seconds into a Pittsburgh power play. Crosby picked up the loose puck and found Malkin for his 21st assist during his streak.
Just 2 minutes later, Crosby scored his 21st goal of the 21-game streak – again while on the power play. This time, Malkin set up Crosby.
When Matt Cooke scored moments after Malkin’s faceoff win later in the period, Phoenix goalie Jason LaBarbera was pulled and the rout was on.
Written by SI & Full story Here
