from Frank Seravalli of TSN,

The Pittsburgh Penguins solved one piece of the puzzle in Game 2 when Sidney Crosby broke through with his first goal in eight games.

The focus now shifts to starting up their other superstar.

Evgeni Malkin, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner, has been on a milk carton for most of the postseason. He hasn’t registered a point in six consecutive games, dating back to Game 2 of the second round against Washington.

Malkin has mostly been marginalized in these Stanley Cup playoffs, save for a four-point explosion in Game 4 against the Rangers in Round 1. He doesn’t look anything like the force he was against New York — and he’s starting to feel the heat.

“It’s every playoffs,” Malkin said Monday. “You win. Or you lose and you’re not scoring. It’s always pressure, but it’s life.”

continued