Malkin returns with hat trick, Penguins score 11 in win against Red Wings

PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkin had three goals and an assist in his return from an illness, and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 11-2 at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday.

It was the center's 13th NHL hat trick and first since Jan. 30, 2018. Malkin was a game-time decision after missing a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday with an illness unrelated to COVID-19.
"I think he's getting better with each game he plays," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "When he's at his best, he's one of the few players that can take a game over. We're fortunate. We have a couple of them on our team. … He's a generational talent."
Teddy Blueger had a goal and three assists, and Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell each had a goal and two assists for the Penguins (40-17-10), who scored 11 goals for the first time since Nov. 16, 1993. Tristan Jarry made 33 saves.
Pittsburgh is 4-1-1 in its past six games and moved within three points of the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Calvin Pickard made nine saves in relief of Alex Nedeljkovic before leaving with an injury at 5:29 of the third period for the Red Wings (26-32-8), who have lost three in a row. Nedeljkovic allowed four goals on 12 shots before being pulled and allowed seven goals on 22 shots for the game.
"For a long time through the season, we were in the mix of things," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "We were excited about that. Now we're not. I'm not sure if we feel sorry for ourselves, whatever. Nobody's going to feel sorry for us. We have to figure out a way to go out and play way better."

Kasperi Kapanen gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 4:16 of the first period, drifting toward the left post for a wrist shot as Nedeljkovic slid out of the crease.
Blueger made it 2-0 at 14:23 with a wrist shot on a 2-on-1.
Malkin extended the lead to 3-0 at 1:48 of the second period with a one-timer that deflected off the stick of Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider on a power play.
Jeff Carter made it 4-0 at 3:18 on a shorthanded goal from the right face-off circle.
Rust pushed it to 5-0 at 5:57 with a one-timer on the power play before Malkin extended it to 6-0 at 7:53 on a wrist shot from the slot.
"Tonight was substantially more fun than the other night (against the Rangers)," Rust said. "To kind of play on our toes and not be on our heels at home, also very fun. I think we've just got to take what we did well this game and build on it."
Dylan Larkin cut it to 6-1 during a 5-on-3 power play at 11:37.
"We're all in this together," Larkin said. "Coaches, training staff, players. We're all in this together. We've got a lot of young players that haven't been in this position before. We don't want those players to be in that position again."
Jakub Vrana pulled Detroit to within 6-2 at 18:04, stealing the puck from Mike Matheson for a wrist shot.

Crosby made it 7-2 with 39 seconds left in the second by tapping in a pass from Evan Rodrigues.
Danton Heinen extended the lead to 8-2 with a wrist shot on a power play at 2:06 of the third period.
Malkin made it 9-2 at 5:51 on Pittsburgh's second shot after Nedeljkovic reentered the game. He has scored 16 goals in 30 games, including six in his past four, since returning from offseason knee surgery on Jan. 11.
Brian Boyle made it 10-2 on a backhand at 7:15.
Rakell scored on a wrist shot from the slot at 17:08 for the 11-2 final. His three points were his first with the Penguins since being acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.
NOTES: Pittsburgh is the third team in the past 26 years to score 11 goals. The Washington Capitals scored 12 against the Florida Panthers on Jan. 11, 2003, and the Ottawa Senators scored 11 against Washington on Nov. 13, 2001. … Crosby has scored 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) on a 12-game home point streak, the longest active in the NHL. … Nedeljkovic started after making 34 saves in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. … No update was provided on Pickard, who played in the NHL for the first time since making 36 saves in a 3-2 shootout win against the Penguins on Jan. 28. He was recalled on an emergency basis from Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on Friday. … Detroit allowed at least 10 goals for the second time since Feb. 26, when it lost 10-7 to the Toronto Maple Leafs.