Malkin scores twice, in return, helps Penguins defeat Ducks

ANAHEIM -- Evgeni Malkin scored two goals and had an assist in his season debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins in a 4-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old forward returned after recovering from knee surgery on June 4.
"Coach (Mike Sullivan) told me before the game to play short, play simple and you'll be fine. I tried to do it," Malkin said. "Just happy the first game is done. We win and just keep going."
Jeff Carter scored twice, and Tristan Jarry made 25 saves for the Penguins (21-9-5), who won 10 straight before losing 3-2 at the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
Jakob Silfverberg scored, and Anthony Stolarz made 30 saves for the Ducks (19-13-7), who went 2-2-0 on their four-game homestand.
"A few too many times, we turned the puck over and they came back at us," Silfverberg said.

Malkin gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead when scored on a slap shot during a power play. Sidney Crosby screened Stolarz and then leaped over the puck before it hit the net at 3:23 of the second period.
"To have [Malkin] in our lineup makes us that much better and especially on the power play," Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang said. "He's such a threat with his shot and his vision, so it's good to have him back."
Silfverberg scored his first goal in 30 games off a loose puck in front of the net to make it 2-1 at 8:33 of the second.
The Ducks otherwise struggled against Pittsburgh's forecheck
"We were playing slow, especially the first two periods," Silfverberg said. "Our 'D,' when they got to the puck, they didn't really have any options. Before you know it, they pinned us in."

Malkin reestablished the two-goal lead when he scored on a redirection from in front of the net to make it 3-1 at 14:38 of the second.
It was the 63rd multigoal game in the NHL for Malkin and first since March 10, 2020, against the New Jersey Devils. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (154), Crosby (85), Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning (80) and Carter (65) are the only active players with more.
Malkin passed up a chance for his 13th NHL hat trick when he fed Carter for an empty-net goal to make it 4-1 with 2:57 left.
"You see every day in practice how good 'Geno' is and how good their line is," Jarry said. "I think it showed tonight, just the type of players (Malkin and Carter) are. They bring it every night, and just having 'Geno' back makes our team better."

Carter gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 1:05 of the first period.
Pittsburgh defenseman Marcus Pettersson poked the puck off the stick of Ducks forward Troy Terry in the Anaheim zone. Carter turned and shot the puck past Stolarz in one motion from the right circle for his 10th goal of the season.
"I kind of felt like [Terry] didn't see me," Pettersson said. "So I tried to get a stick on it and it popped out to 'Carts' and he made a great shot."
NOTES: Malkin became the fourth player to skate in at least 16 seasons for the Penguins, joining Mario Lemieux (17), Crosby (17) and Letang (16). This is the 16th season that Crosby, Malkin and Letang have played together -- the most by three teammates in NHL history. … Pittsburgh went 36-19 on face-offs. ... The Penguins came in with the top penalty kill in the NHL at 90.4 percent and killed all three power plays by Anaheim, which came in with the fourth-best power play in the NHL (27.5 percent). ... Carter has reached double figures in goals in each of his 17 NHL seasons. ... Pittsburgh forwards Danton Heinen and Zach Aston-Reese were added to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday, joining forwards Bryan Rust and Brock McGinn and goalie Casey DeSmith. ... Penguins forwards Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna were recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Angello played 5:19 in his 28th NHL game, and Zohorna played 12:10 in his 10th NHL game. ... Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm and forward Derek Grant returned from protocol. Lindholm, who missed two games, had four blocks in 19:13. Grant, who missed three games, had three giveaways in 16:31.