NHL Rink Wrap: Penguins score 11 goals; Kessel second on ‘ironman’ list

Do you give someone less credit for a big game when their team just decimates an overmatched opponent? That’s about the only way you can deny Evgeni Malkin, who generated a hat trick and an assist as the Penguins blew out the Red Wings 11-2.

This marks the 15th hat trick for Evgeni Malkin (13 in the regular season, two in postseason play). Malkin last generated a hat trick on Jan. 20, 2018 against the Sharks.

Malkin’s hat trick + assist leaves him at 32 points (16G, 16A) in 30 games.

If it wasn’t already clear, Malkin seems to have shaken off a six-game pointless streak, which took place from March 3-17. The Penguins are no strangers to playing without Malkin, yet it’s worth wondering just how much scarier this team could be if he can truly remain healthy come playoff time.

(Unfortunately, that’s almost always a big “if.”)

Scroll for more on those 11 goals from the Penguins.

Watch the Penguins score those 11 goals in these highlights/lowlights for the Red Wings.

Nathan MacKinnon didn’t take kindly to Matt Dumba‘s hit on Mikko Rantanen, so there was a fight. On one hand, kudos to MacKinnon for sticking up for a teammate (and regular running mate). On the other hand, there’s the worry about his hands, as you can always injure yourself in a fight. For an Avalanche team that’s quietly dealt with quite a few injury issues for years, they may want to ask MacKinnon to outsource that fighting job in the future.

Nate MacKinnon challenges Matt Dumba and takes him down in a fight pic.twitter.com/RLsYSOmt9U

— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) March 28, 2022

Kevin Fiala scored just 15 seconds into OT to secure the extra point (and the last laugh) for Minny:

Fiala gives the @mnwild the OT win! pic.twitter.com/brXF7jil3n

— NHL GIFs