Game of redemption comes just in time for Malkin and Penguins

Evgeni Malkin grew more confident as the game progressed, using his size to hold off defenders or his stickhandling to dance around them. Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images Allan Muir's Mailbag Submit a comment or question for Allan. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

Challenge issued. Challenge answered.

If anyone had doubts about Evgeni Malkin's ability to carry his share of the load in Pittsburgh's second-round series against Washington, they were erased by a memorable performance on Wednesday night.

It was Kris Letang's point shot that deflected off Shaone Morrisonn and over Simeon Varlamov's shoulder at 11:23 of overtime that sealed Pittsburgh's 3-2 win in Game 3. But it was the grim determination of Malkin that got them to that point.

And for a Penguins team that was in danger of falling behind 3-0 in the series, his redemption came not a moment too soon.

Not that he was brutal in the first two contests, but it's hard not to notice when the NHL's points leader is virtually absent from the score sheet. Malkin did have a pair of assists in the first two contests, but a minus-three rating on top of a five-game goalless streak had him wearing the horns as the series' most obvious underachiever.

With Sidney Crosby scoring four of Pittsburgh five goals, the pressure was on Malkin to take some of the pressure. And brother, did he. This wasn't just a return to form. This was a statement, an exclamatory reminder that Alex Ovechkin wasn't the only Hart Trophy candidate in the series.

It didn't start out well. He looked out of sync early, and was clearly frustrated after being thrown out of a couple of early faceoffs. But boosted by chants of "MVP! MVP!" from the Mellon Arena crowd, Malkin helped stall Washington's early pressure, picking up a loose puck and forcing Varlamov to make the first of several remarkable saves off his partial breakaway.

After that, you could sense it was just a matter of time before his streak was over. Malkin grew more confident as the game progressed, using his size to hold off defenders or his stickhandling to dance around them. And time and again, he led the charge to the net, testing Varlamov and challenging his mates to do the same.

"His play pretty much speaks for itself," coach Dan Byslma said. "He was at another level. He was dominant with the puck. He had the one goal, which was fantastic, but he had other opportunities. It was great to see him respond [to the challenge]."

Bylsma noticed how hard he was competing for the puck, throwing him out there for nearly 30 minutes on the night, a game high. He had nine shots in the game, but it was Malkin's puck possession that ultimately led to his goal. He blew by Alexander Semin as he danced through the offensive zone, forcing the flat-footed winger to hook him at 14:10 of the third. Thirty-nine seconds later, Malkin picked up the puck along the boards, cut through the middle and launched a wrister that sailed over Varlamov's shoulder for the go-ahead goal.

He had three chances of his own to end the game in OT, but the fact that he didn't took nothing away from Malkin's heroics. This was a special game from a special player. A couple more like it and the Pens might actually get out of this series alive.