Pens 4, Kings 3 OT

Just when you think that one person can not make that much of a difference in a team game you just need to watch the Pens before Malkin and then after Malkin this year. The Pens were 2 - 2 without Malkin while he was recovering from a dislocated shoulder. Since he returned the Pens are an impressive 5 - 1 with the only loss coming in his first game.

Malkin left little time to worry about whether he would score a goal in his 6th straight game but netting one about 8 mins in to give the Pens an early 2 - 1 lead. He did however pick the perfect time to break the string of single goal games when he netted the OT winner on a rebound from a Gonchar shot. After scoring the game winner he jumped into Armstrong's arms but it was Armstrong's legs that couldn't hold up.

Other then Malkin's heroics, Crosby had 3 assists and Staal score another goal centering the 2nd line. That was pretty much it for Pens highlights as they were outplayed for long periods of time and pretty much the whole second period. The good news is that last year these are the games they would find a way to lose but this year they seem to find a way to win. They were able to rebound from giving up a goal less then 1 min in to each of the first 2 periods.

Next up an even harder test with the Sharks on Sat...