The Pittsburgh Penguins sit one loss from elimination in the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals, but center Evgeni Malkin didn’t sound worried in his Monday morning meeting with reporters.
Malkin, whose Penguins will play Game 6 in the Tampa Bay Lighting’s home building Tuesday night, said he’s sure the series will be decided back at Consol Energy Center in Game 7.
“I believe in my team, I believe in myself,” he told reporters, via Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. “We’re coming back to Pittsburgh for sure.”
The Penguins fell behind three games to two in the best-of-seven series Sunday night after Tyler Johnson’s overtime goal gave the Lightning a 4-3 win in Game 5. Though Marc-Andre Fleury, who was making his first start of the Stanley Cup playoffs, struggled in net for Pittsburgh in that one, the greater issue for the Penguins in this postseason has be the performance — or lack thereof — of their two biggest stars.
Since the start of their second-round series against the Washington Capitals, Malkin and center Sidney Crosby have combined to score just four goals in 11 games. Neither has tallied multiple points in any of those games, and each managed just two shots on goal in Sunday’s overtime loss.
Even still, Malkin isn’t the only Penguins player who’s confident his team will take care of business on the road in Game 6.
“We’re in a tough position, but there’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to come back here for a Game 7,” winger Patric Hornqvist told reporters after Game 5.
Thumbnail photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images
