Evgeni Malkin was at it again.
After practice Wednesday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, Malkin was asked what he expects from Phil Kessel in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena.
“He score,” Malkin said. “It’s his time to score.”
Don’t bet against Malkin. His predictions for the Penguins since the start of last postseason basically have turned him into the organization’s own Magic 8 Ball, but there’s another issue at play here.
It wasn’t long ago that Malkin’s media sessions were short, infrequent and, at times, not terribly informative. Now, they’re can’t-miss appointments filled with humor, brutal honesty and, yes, a little prognostication.
“Especially in the playoffs, I think he feels the urgency of what our team can achieve,” Chris Kunitz said. “He wants to show that emotion not only on the ice but in the locker room to rally guys.”
Kunitz would know. He was Nostradamus Malkin’s most recent target.
• Before Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final, Malkin said he approached Kunitz, pointed out that his previous goal had come Feb. 16 and made a demand.
“You haven’t scored in three months,” Malkin remembered of what he said to Kunitz. “I want a goal.”
Kunitz, of course, scored the game-winning, series-clinching goal against Ottawa, the one that helped the Penguins reach their sixth Stanley Cup final, and Kunitz added another for good measure to trigger a run of three consecutive multipoint efforts.
• After Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Malkin said the following about the Capitals: “They think they won an easy game. They think they can win Game 7. I say, ‘No.’ … We have a great team. I believe in my team.”
The Penguins delivered what still might’ve been their best performance of the postseason in Game 7, a 2-0 win.
• Last year, Malkin predicted the Penguins would win Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final at Tampa Bay and would bring the series back to Pittsburgh.
“I believe in my team,” Malkin said. “I believe in myself. We’re coming back to Pittsburgh [for Game 7] for sure.”
There have also been blunt assessments of the Penguins play.
After that Game 6 loss against the Capitals, Malkin cracked, “Nothing worked.”
What did Malkin think of the power play after Game 3 in Nashville? “I know we play bad [on the] power play.”
Before the season, Malkin was unhappy with his game at the World Cup of Hockey: “I’m a little bit [ticked] off, a little bit mad at myself.”
Malkin has been available a ton this postseason. Both he and the Penguins media relations staff deserve credit for that, especially when you remember that Malkin must also answer everything a second time in Russian.
But acting as the unfiltered voice of the team, even if it’s entertaining for reporters, doesn’t do much for the on-ice results. Several of Malkin’s teammates, however, said he has opened up more around them, too.
“I think he’s been a little bit more vocal between periods,” Marc-Andre Fleury said. “He’s never been a guy who talks the most, but I think the way he plays and how hard he works, I think that’s the leadership you can see and follow.”
Some of this can be attributed to Malkin’s place in life. He’s married, has a young son and very much enjoys fatherhood, as well as how strong the bond has become between his wife and son and parents and other relatives.
But even Malkin, when discussing his family on media day, doesn’t think it has affected his on-ice performance. Maybe just his give-a-hoot level about what he says off of it.
Kessel said he has always seen this side of Malkin.
“Obviously Geno is a big part of this team,” Kessel said. “He’s a great player. He has fun. He’s a great guy. I just think he is who he is, right. He hasn’t changed much.”
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said he hasn’t seen a huge change in Malkin’s demeanor these playoffs; in Sullivan’s mind, Malkin’s intensity and demeanor always have been like this.
“I haven’t really noticed a change,” Sullivan said. “I think he always is fairly animated, especially around the locker room, in a casual environment. He’s got a great sense of humor. I think he enjoys his teammates. I know he loves the game. I think he’s one of those guys that is a fun guy to be around.”
You won’t find any of Malkin’s teammates who disagree with that assessment. He remains one of the biggest pranksters on the team — although he’s no Fleury — and a regular for pregame soccer.
On the ice, Malkin leads the playoff field with 26 points, although he hasn’t been thrilled with how he has played the past two games. Malkin also is the front-runner in predictions made and accuracy.
“I try,” Malkin said when asked whether he’s talking more these playoffs. “I try my best. I’m not a quiet guy in the locker room. I try to talk a little bit after intermission, after first period, after second period. It’s not easy.
“We have a good leadership group here. [Matt] Cullen, Flower, Sid. I do my best. I know I can play better a little bit on ice. [Thursday] I need to try and show my best game. It’s time.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: June 8, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
