Evgeni Malkin gets three as Pittsburgh Penguins destroy Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1 -NHL Update
Evgeni Malkin was the star on Saturday night, February 25, 2012, as he and the Pittsburgh Penguins thrashed Tampa Bay Lightning, 8-1, at the sold-out CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The superstar forward picked up his ninth career hat-trick and brought his goal total of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season to 36, putting him at the first number spot overall with 77 points scored.
Whatever the situation is, Malkin does not let the score total get to his head
"I'm trying not to think about my points, when you start to think it's a little bit too much in your head," said Malkin. "I just think about my game, what I do right and not."
Pittsburgh is now fifth in the Eastern Conference with 75 points, a point ahead of sixth placed New Jersey Devils, and three away from overtaking Boston Bruins for the second spot.
Penguins came out strong in the contest against Tampa Bay as Chris Kunitz and Matt Cooke scored two back-to-back, 50 seconds apart, a little over midway through, while Jordan Staal got the shorthanded goal at 14:40 on a breakaway.
Staal added his second of the night on a power play advantage midway through the second period while Malkin got his first at 16:03.
Teddy Purcell finally put Tampa Bay on the scoreboard while taking advantage of the Pittsburgh penalty as Joe Vitale was called for goalkeeper interference, but it would be their first and last.
Despite the Pittsburgh domination, Lightning kept their veteran goalie, Dwayne Roloson, in the net who managed to block just 26 of 34 shots.
"Their goalie stoned us for the first two periods and we couldn't get any wind," said Tampa Bay Lightning goalie, Guy Boucher. "We out chanced them in the first period and it's 3-0 for the opponent. It was tough for our guys to take. … We had four breakaways and we don't score once."
Evgeni Malkin added two consecutive goals in the third period and Pascal Dupuis capped it off at 19:12 to allow Pittsburgh to take the easy match.
Pittsburgh has now won two straight and aim to continue doing so as they host Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday.
Tampa Bay will be facing off against Devils in New Jersey on the same day.
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