Penguins set for Malkin’s return

The quote may be old. But the sentiment remains as true as the day Penguins coach Mike Sullivan first spoke it.

“Discipline, in all of its forms, is what makes a team hard to play against,” Sullivan said about two years back.

The Penguins have been exactly that this season. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin missing and many more key pieces running through the revolving door of injury and illness, the Penguins instead relied on system, stingy defense and simplicity to achieve success.

Recently, they’re among the NHL’s hottest teams, racking up 29 points since their coach rejoined the team (for good) on Nov. 20 following a bout with COVID-19. And, throughout the entire season, they’ve been one of the most-disciplined clubs in a number of categories.

The Penguins have allowed the fourth-fewest goals per game (2.50). They’re the NHL’s best team at staying out of the box, averaging just 6:27 penalty minutes a game. And they’re the NHL’s best at snuffing out penalty, with an impressive 90.4%.

Malkin’s return from right knee surgery appears imminent. The 35-year-old center said a few weeks back that the current California swing was a good ballpark guess for when he might make his season debut.

With Malkin’s season debut coming any day now, how will he impact a disciplined, defensive-oriented team? It’s certainly fair to wonder. On one hand, Malkin has proven himself as an elite offensive playmaker. He possesses a diverse skillset, with size to play a power game, skating to play a speed game and creativity to play a skill game.