Malkin setting example among Penguins with work ethic entering Qualifiers

CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Evgeni Malkin has just one focus.

"In my head and heart, it's all about winning," the Pittsburgh Penguins center said Monday.

That drive has been noticeable through the first week of training camp. Playing on a line with left wing Jason Zucker and right wing Bryan Rust, Malkin has pushed the tempo more than four months removed from the regular season, when he led the Penguins with 74 points (25 goals, 49 assists) in 55 games.

"His work ethic is terrific. I think he's leading through his example," coach Mike Sullivan said. "The level of intensity that he's playing the game with and practicing with, right now, it's contagious throughout our team. ... I think it's just an indication of how excited he is to play. I think he likes the group we have. He likes the opportunity we have in front of us."

Pittsburgh (40-23-6, .623 points percentage) enters the Stanley Cup Qualifiers as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and will play the No. 12 seed, the Montreal Canadiens (31-31-9, .500), beginning Aug. 1 in one of four best-of-5 series to be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the East hub city.

The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the loser will have a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery, to be held Aug. 10.

Malkin, who is in his 14th NHL season, will be looking to win the Stanley Cup for the fourth time with the Penguins after winning it in 2009, 2016 and 2017. There was no guarantee he'd have the chance when the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

"I always think about Cups, for sure," Malkin said. "I'm glad to be back on the ice. It's my job. It's what I do for all my life. … We love the game. In my head, it's always helping the team to win. I'm focused on right now, my game, like everything."

Sullivan said Malkin can take over any game when he's determined.

"It's fun to watch him when he's in this type of a mindset," he said. "I think he's only going to get better here with every day that he plays and gets in more game condition. You can see how dominant he can be."

That was the case in the regular season, when Malkin bounced back after leading the Penguins with 89 penalty minutes and an NHL career-worst minus-25 rating in 68 games in 2018-19. He finished with 58 penalty minutes, his fewest in a season in which he played at least 50 games, and improved to a plus-7 rating.

While center Sidney Crosby recovered from core muscle surgery from Nov. 10 to Jan. 12, Malkin led the Penguins with 38 points (11 goals, 27 assists) in 26 games -- he missed two games because of an illness -- to help them go 18-6-4 and lead the NHL with a .714 points percentage in that span.

Because of what he accomplished this season, Malkin's confidence has returned.

"I'm rested. Everyone is on the same page right now," Malkin said. "I'm excited because it's the first time I've not skated for like four months. That's long for me too. I'm glad everyone's back, and I'm glad hockey is coming soon."