The Amazing Disappearing Man
by FrankD on May 29, 2008 4:37 PM EDT
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PrintDespite an obvious powerhouse of snipers and scorers, The Pittsburgh Penguins were unable to find their offense in the first two games of the Finals. Conn Smythe contender Evgeni Malkin was no exception. Now, heading into Game 4 at Mellon Arena, fans and family of the Penguins hope Detroit awakens the sleeping giant sooner than later.
Above: Evgeni Malkin scoring a goal against Detroit
Where oh where has Malkin gone? A 19-point post-season performance is no doubt a formidable accomplishment. But 19 points is all Malkin has managed to steadily maintain over the last three games. Mind you I said steadily maintain. In other words, remain stagnant with.
Here's a guy that was on pace for an absolutely amazing post-season points total. At the rate in which Malkin was scoring, 19 points heading into the finals put him on pace for 25-27 points.
When Crosby got his boo-boo in the latter part of the season, Malkin was a machine. Malkin was asked to carry the team and there was no other way you'd want him to play. Following Crosby's rehabilitation, the two were united again in the playoffs and the chemistry didn't miss a beat (even if used strictly on the power play).
Consider these numbers.
In the month of April, over the course of seven games, Malkin tallied five goals and eight assists for 13 points.
In May, spread over ten games, Geno has mustered up only four goals and two assists for 6 points.
Comparatively speaking, it's amazing to think that he played better point-wise in less games. Maybe the opposition got wind of him; maybe the defensive systems adjusted.
In Game 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Red Wings had Malkin's number. Number 71 combined for one shot over two games. I repeat; ONE SHOT over TWO GAMES. He hardly touched the puck without being smothered and was missing wildly on normal dead-shot passes to Sykora/Staal.
Game 3 in Pitt changed a lot. While still held pointless on the night, Malkin quadrupled his shot total and played the puck with a fine mix of control and finesse. Clearly two aspects that Malkin has hardly had issues with in the past, but sure signs of his slump's foreclosure.
Much to the benefit of the Penguins, Sidney Crosby took the game to another level Thursday night with two goals of his own. Consider it a fitting start to the resurgence of the one of the NHL's best offensive teams. If Malkin opts to follow in suit, then both he and Crosby will be running the show on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Keep the faith; he shall rise again.
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Is he hurt?
I swear he really looked like he was laboring on his skates at times last night, and there were a few occasions when he just flat out wasn’t moving. I really wonder if he is hurt. Roy Mario knows (sorry, I need to remember where I am posting) that the Pens need his presence to be felt in this series.
I don’t think he’s injured, but perhaps under the weather. A lot of the guys were mentioning a bug going around during the Flyers’ series and maybe he’s yet to shake it.
Speaking of Mario, he has made himself unavailable to the media during the Finals. A lot of people are ragging on him and the team for that but I think he is a purveyor in getting the young guys’ skates wet and having them do it on their own. Really, when you think about it, what can he even say? “Yes we need to score”, “Yes they look good”, “Yes Detroit is leading 2-1”. He knows that, I know that, and I think fans around the NHL know that. He’s not a player anymore, talk to the players – the guys on the ice.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
Scott Burnside on ESPN ripped him a new one over his unavailability, pointing out how Mario makes himself the media’s best friend when it comes to trying to sell the team, or to boost its value, because that means Mario’s stake will be worth more.
Now? Nothing monetary at stake for him, so back in the shadows he goes, even if having one of the all time greats on the Stanley Cup stage would do wonders for the game….
Burnside’s take, not mine, but…it does provide a selfish portrait of Lemieux that I had really never thought of before. How is his press recalcitrance playing in Pittsburgh?
I don’t think anyone in Pitt cares hardly as much as the rest of the hockey world apparently. I mean, all Pens fans know who Mario is, what he’s done and what he’ll continue to do. His position in the shadows during the Cup-run is his choice and respected throughout town. Like I even said, he has no position really in the spotlight. He’s a player-turned-owner. If he were just the owner the media would only have half the questions to ask. (IE – How does this compare to YOUR run. How does Crosby compare to YOU). He doesn’t want that crap – he just wants to sit back and watch how the team handles it all.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I don’t know if this is his motivation, but it would also be unfair for Mario to talk about how Sid compares to him. So far, very favorably, but there’s no reason for Mario to go and make a big deal about things. Either way, people would try to read something into it. If he’s complimentary of Sid, it could be called false modesty, or trying to prop up his current team. If he said, “Sid’s great, but really, I was awesome” or something like that, it would stir up controversy, which no one needs.
Another thing that may be in play is that he remembers what happened when he called out Jagr for needing to be more of a leader. Jagr didn’t respond well.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 30, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
A lot of hockey players have mentioned they hate being told WHAT to do, not how to do it. Leading by example always works better in an athletic setting. Natural born competitors will compete with one another on the team in terms of adulation and performance just as much as they’ll want to compete with every guy on the other bench. I think letting someone like Gary or Sydor step up and tell Sid what might be a good “suggestion” definitely carries more weight than if the owner says something.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
My two cents on Mario.
Leave him alone. Bottom line. He’s the owner, no one cares what the owner of the Redwings is doing. Let the guy run his business anyway he wants, it shouldn’t matter that he’s one of the greatest players ever to play the game.
If he feels that it’s his players that should be talking to the press during the Stanley Cup then more power to him. He apparently knows what he’s doing, considering the Pens went from worst and without a City or owner, to staying in Pitt, brand new facility on the way, and in the midst of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Geez, columnist need to cut the guy a break.
Those are my sentiments exactly. Owners, CEOs, GMs – whatever, don’t say a word from any other team unless it’s specific to team management, a trade, or ownership duties. Just because he played doesn’t make him any more an expert on what’s going on now.
This is why athletes drink (Lemieux has a fully-stocked wine cellar).
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
True. I also think that Sid is already a better leader than Jagr. I loved Jagr and still like him, even though he’s with the Rangers, but I don’t think he wanted to be the leader of the team. He could be the best player in the world, but I never got the sense that he wanted to be the team captain. He needed Ron Francis or a guy Steve Yzerman to take the strain off of him. Of course the team wasn’t as good as it had been, and he was basically carrying the team at times.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 30, 2008 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Which is odd in a sense when you consider NY added Drury and Gomez this offseason to give him guys to gel with. Point total wise, he did a horrid job and fell one point short of Crosby (who scored one point more while not playing over 20+ games than Jagr). His “I’m back again” year was right after the lockout, and I think it is ok to say he’ll hardly ever hit 100 again.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
Jagr’s definitely nearing the end of his career. He’s been in the league now, what, 17, 18 years? He must be getting close to 40 years old (at least 35 or 36).
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 30, 2008 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Jagr is out.
Jagr was a great player with the Penguins, he was my favorite player when I was little. But IMO, he’s done. I think he is retiring this summer and going back to Europe. He may play a little over there, just for fun, but he’s done with the NHL.
On another note, did Jagr really frustrate anyone else that watched him? Everytime that I watch him I just want him to hit someone, he’s friggen HUGE.
No defense
The one thing that I did get irritated about was that he didn’t want to play defense. He would step up at times in the playoffs, but he never liked it and wasn’t really good at it. But sometimes he would score a goal that was just amazing (falling down, sliding on his side, etc.).
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 30, 2008 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, that’s part of my “hit someone” shplee I would rant with. Hossa reminds me a lot of Jagr. They’re both big guys, and physically look similar. Jagr is a more naturally talented goal scorer, but Hossa more than makes up for it with his back-checking and defense. Hossa’s a machine.
Hossa
Yeah, I like Hossa. I’ve lived in Atlanta for the last 10 years, so I know about Hossa. Hated to see the Thrashers lose him, but I’m glad he went to the Pens. The Thrashers took a couple steps back when they lost him. Of course, they were already mediocre, anyway.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 30, 2008 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Tired
My brother said that he saw an interview with Malkin where Malkin said that he was “tired.” I’m not sure if that he is actually tired, or if that’s the only phrase in english he knows. Also, i’m not sure how a 21 year old is tired? You get a lot of days off in the finals, suck it up big fella.
Tired.
He got tired at the end of last season too, because he just wasn’t used to the nhl grind, it’s so different than the Russian league. More travel, more games and more physicality. He’s now played 13 games more than he did last season, so he may legitimately be worn out from the whole thing. Plus, unlike a lot of guys who come over, he doesn’t have a good command of English, and can’t communicate everything he wants to, and he has a whole lot more attention on him than most, which is emotionally draining.
I would buy that he’s tired, although I don’t know that it’s the main reason. Here’s something else I noticed. In the Philly series he took some big hits, and then he seemed to get scared. He passed the puck as soon as he got it, didn’t try to get into as many rushes and backed away from the defenders. He looked timid, and like he was nervous of being hit (maybe injured? maybe just rattled). It seems like that carried into games one and two, the reason he was looking better last night, to me, was that he was finally staying on the puck more. He was absorbing hits, and he was also giving a few. He also was, according to CBC, battling a flu during the Philly series (like Frank said).
Am I weird for saying that I’d imagine there is a chance in the future that Malkin goes back to Russia? I’m not saying at the end of this contract, but I’m thinking of Aleksey Morozov sort of move. It’s like Jagr once said: "A lot of guys have friends and no money. It’s not like that for me. I have money and no friends. If I could bring Czechoslovakia to America I’d be the happiest man alive."
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I think that
one of the strongest things the Pens have going for them, in resigning Malkin, is the fact that he’s comfortable there and he knows/likes the guys on the team. He has always come across, to me, as the kind of person who isn’t really comfortable in unknown situations (like meeting and getting to know a whole bunch of new teammates, or giving an interview in English).
I could see him returning to Europe to play, but I think that in the next few years he’ll get more comfortable in North America and the NHL. It’s hard to know, because he doesn’t give many interviews or anything, about how he feels about it, and what his plans are. Then again, his English is probably much better than he lets on, he’s just like me and my french, not entirely comfortable using it.
I like the Jagr quote though, it’s a lot tougher for guys from Europe, and their families, to chase the NHL dream than others.
Yeah – I really should consider buying that NHL quote book, rather than just photocopying the pages i like from the library. ;-)
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I can see that happening, but I don’t think it will. Of course, I base that pretty much solely on the Nick Lidstrom experience for Wings fans, he’s been talking about going back to Sweden for the better part of this century, and it hasn’t happened yet. If he goes now, well, he will have given the Wings a full career, so it’s cool, but it was scary the first couple of times he talked about it.
The money is better, the competition is better, there’s more fame in the NHL game than in even the best Russian leagues. Those are powerful things. Especially if Malkin gets married (assuming he’s not alrady, I don’t know) and has kids, and they get to school age, et cetera….
Eventually, he’ll adjust to the longer NHL schedule, and the rest of the league will have to fear him for more than the regular season and the first round of the playoffs…
It’s true. But I think the transition for Euro players compared to French-Canadian (talking language barriers here) is much more difficult. Max Talbot has done a ton of work with Malkin this year, linguistically and friendship-wise. If anything, it may turn out to be a reason why Malkin stays in Pitt.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
basketball analogy
Pistons are playing Celtics pretty much dead even, except for the fact that Ray Allen has been MIA in the NBA playoffs so far. He stepped up big time last night….and still, the Pistons were within a point of the Celtics with a minute to go, because the other big time players had a less effective night, partly due to Allen demanding (deserving?) the basketball.
Now, if Malkin shows up, does he, like Ray Allen last night, do so at the expense of other skaters? Or does he enhance the overall brand?
The analogy is inexact, obviously, because usually in basketball, with the shot clock, you know roughly how many possessions you’re going to get in a game, and a hot shooter can take up a bigger chunk of those limited possessions, blah blah blah…hockey, it’s different where the flow of the game, the momentum at any given time can significantly affect the number of real possessions within the scoring zone/chances, etc.
But the question is still valid, I think. If Malkin rises from his malaise and is more assertive, what’s that mean for other skaters?
If Malkin rises again I think it means good things for the other skaters. Hitting Sykora on passes, finding Sid on the PP (or vice versa). I don’t think the scales tilt when Crosby and Malkin play to their utmost potential, I think it’s more likely the scales remain even but just balance more weight.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I see your point but I have to concur with Frank. If Malkin plays well it takes a lot of the pressure off of his line mates to make big plays, and it gives those guys more open space. If they can find some open space in the high slot and get a feed from Malkin, or if they can get a little more space to make some dekes (preferably triple ones), then Malkin helps out the team.
Look at Detroits first goal last game, Staal had to respect the cross ice pass which gave Franzen a free pass at Fleury. In my opinion if Malkin plays better Detroit has to respect him, which allows other players to make plays.
But Detroit is just shutting him down completely. I mean, he touched the puck the other night and was mobbed by four guys before he crossed the blue line. I think he has to consider their style and adapt it to his. For example, he’s a great puck-handler but even God won’t have an easy time handling the puck across the blue line through four defenders. So in that scenario, with four guys on him, a cross-ice pass sets up a clear break to the goal. Or even a drop pass that sends Malkin streaking across the rink (onside) and opens up the playing field. They have his number, no doubt about it. But it won’t take much for Malkin to breakout in at least one of these games – preferably sooner than later (but if I had to pick, I’d say on the road).
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
I see your point, but by playing better I don’t necessarily mean he has to score a lot of points. He’s already making the guys around him better by getting so much attention from Detroit’s D, i.e. the four man blanket he wears in the neutral zone. But having said that, he can make the rest of his line even better if he doesn’t try to do too much, if he can get the puck to the open man and find space (or create space) his line will be hard to handle.
If he does all those things he will score a lot of points, without necessarily trying to. He might not score a lot of goals, but he’ll definitely pick up a few assists. He’s just got to play with what Detroit will give him and let the rest of the line step up. If he’s got four men on him, than at least three of his line mates are uncovered. They need to take advantage of that. I think a big part of Malkin’s problem is that Sykora has been slumping and/or quiet this series. If Sykora can take advantage of the space he’s getting at the detriment of Malkin, then Detroit’s D will have to back of Malkin to cover Sykora more. At which point Malkin will have to step up.
Sorry this is a long post, I’m kind of thinking it out as I type. However, I think you’ll get my point. It’s a whole line affair, and the whole line needs to step up.
I dig. No reason to apologize for a post; type away. You’re dead on with Sykora, although I’d like to add Malone to that list as well. Since the beginning of this series he’s really only had his name announced when taking stupid penalties at crucial points when Pitt could have mounted a comeback or retaliation. I know he’s also really getting knocked around hard out there, so I’ll almost kinda sorta give him some leeway.
FrankD from Pensburgh.com
True about Malone. All I could do during game 2 watching Malone and Roberts was think about how much **@& I would have gotten from my coach. They kept getting so many stupid penalties, ones that no NHL player should get in the Stanley Cup Finals. Neither one of them were exactly “thinking.”
Also with Malone, I love the guy and he’s had a career year. . . But, he’s been playing a little above his normal self in the playoffs. I’d love to see him step it up and take it to the next level again, he’s a fun palyer to watch.
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