Technically, Malkin's high-scoring week began in the waning days of January, when he tallied his 12th career hat trick in a 5-2 defeat of the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 30 at PPG Paints Arena. He had the game-winning goal that night, his seventh such marker of the season, which tied him for second-most in the NHL.
Three nights later, Malkin keyed a huge 7-4 defeat of the Metropolitan Division rival Washington Capitals by scoring twice and adding a pair of assists. Those tallies gave Malkin multiple goals in three-consecutive games, allowing him to join Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr as the only Pens in the past 25 years so accomplish that feat. Malkin scored the Penguins' only goal the next evening on the road during a 3-1 setback in New Jersey. That tally ran Malkin's goal-scoring streak to a season-high four games (8 goals total).
Malkin's scoring spree, which began in December, has resulted in him scoring 22 goals in 28 games during that span, most in the NHL. For the season, Malkin has 29 goals, second-most in the entire NHL, three behind league-leader Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals. Malkin has scored 13 of those goals on the power play, tying him with Winnipeg's Patrik Laine for the lead in that category.
Last month, Malkin led the NHL with 12 goals in 12 games, and his 19 points were second-most behind Crosby (21). Those numbers earned Malkin NHL 'First Star' honors. For the season, Malkin has 29 goals, 31 assists and 60 points in 50 games. That ties him for fourth in the NHL scoring race, six behind countryman Nikita Kucherov for the top spot.
The Penguins currently have three of the top-eight scorers in the NHL. Phil Kessel is second overall with 63 points, three behind Kucherov. Malkin sits in fourth place; and Crosby is tied for eighth with 58 points (17G-41A).
