“We have a great line,” Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin PRAISES new joinee Reilly Smith as duo DOMINATES in opening games

Evgeni Malkin has praised the linkup and playing style of new signee Reilly Smith as the Penguins enjoyed another big win on Saturday against the Flames.

“We have a great line,” Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin PRAISES new joinee Reilly Smith as duo DOMINATES in opening games

Evgeni Malkin and Reilly Smith (Pic Credit: NHL)

The Pittsburgh Penguins are riding high on confidence. After suffering a 4-2 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks on the opening night, they would destroy their rivals Washington Capitals 4-0 and the Calgary Flames 5-2. In these victories, Evgeni Malkin has shined. The 37-year-old veteran has now expressed his pleasure in quickly linking up with Reilly Smith on the left side.

The forward had a goal and an assist in his side’s latest win on Saturday. This has him sitting joint top of the standings with six goals to his name. While he joked about how he wanted the season to end tomorrow so he could win the Hart Trophy, he shared his thoughts on teaming up with the new members.

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He along with Jake Guentzel (also six goals) has led the line for the Penguins when it comes to scoring. He though praised the efforts of new signee Smith and how good the chemistry is between them. “We have a great line,” he said to the reporters about linking up Smith and Rickard Rakell. Smith who joined the side after winning the Stanley Cup with Vegas Golden Knights last time around has hit the ground running.

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“I want to win, you know? I want to play hard. Last year, is again, we talk a lot and we don’t like it, to miss playoffs,” Malkin said about missing playoffs and how important these two points were. Last season was the first time in 16 years that the Penguins failed to reach the knockout phase. This year they seem to be working on that and trying to be back where they belong.

Related: Sidney Crosby SAVAGELY teases Jake Guentzel by making ‘pig noises’ following Penguins’ 4-0 win against Capitals

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan suggests unique additions to team’s “core” members

The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the most popular and successful NHL franchises. Several big names have donned their famous jersey. However, the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang have worn it more together than any other team in North American sports history. Such has been their influence on the game, they have been called the “core” of the team. Their coach, Mike Sullivan has now suggested some new additions to this group.

“Core” groups are usually those players who have played a huge part in the success of the team. The trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang have done that for a long time now. Sullivan has proposed some new names who can be considered to be the core of the team.

Mike Sullivan
Coach Mike Sullivan (Pic Credit: AP)

“I think there’s a few guys that could talk about with respect to what that ‘Pittsburgh Penguins core’ looks like,” he said. The coach further added, “I would suggest that Erik Karlsson is part of that group. I think Rusty [Bryan Rusty] has earned his way into that group.” Karlsson is one of the biggest additions to the Penguins in recent years, while Rust has shown no signs of rust since his debut in 2014.

“We talk about the core guys a lot being our ‘Big Three’ because of the legacy they’ve built here… but there’s always an extension of that and that’s these guys,” Sullivan further claimed. The other name he spoke about is Jake Guentzel, who has been with them since the 2016-17 Stanley Cup season.

He is once again showing his talent and currently sits with Malkin on top of the scoring charts. While the “Big Three” era of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin has dominated, it is perhaps time for a change and for the new “core” members to take responsibility.

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