NHL disappoints Malkin again, Malkin wreaks revenge on Rangers

The league office and the New York Rangers share the same home port, but the Rangers may feel as though they’ve been left at sea by their friends in Manhattan.

With one spot opening up on the Eastern Conference all star team over the weekend with the injury to Ottawa’s Dany Heatley, more than a few observers thought that Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin would get the call to fill in on January 27th.

If Malkin was waiting by the phone, he had probably worked up a good burn by the time Monday nights Rangers – Penguins game got underway. Malkin was once again overlooked by the invitation committee, something that incredibly havs become a recurring theme for the electrifying Russian.

Monday, the NHL selection team decided to go with Marc Savard of the Bruins to take part in the no hit shinny contest at the end of the month in Atlanta.

Rather than feel sorry for himself though, it seems that Malkin decided to show the NHL that maybe they just don’t quite understand their own game these days, as they seemingly would like to think they do.

The Russian exploded for three goals on Monday night, a one man Ranger wrecking crew as the accounted for three of the four Penguin goals on the way to their convincing 4-1 victory over the Rangers.

The game marked Malkin’s second hat trick in six games and was highlighted by a crushing body check on Michal Rozsival that will have even Don Cherry singing his praises and perhaps finding space on the next Rock em’, Sock em’ effort.

The Penguins have long since been saying that Malkin deserved an all star berth this year, many media commentators as well were puzzled by the NHL’s roster manipulation that leaves out one of the most exciting players in the league off the all start roster for yet another year.

After Monday night, you can probably pencil in the New York Rangers as on the bandwagon as well, having seen first hand how he controls a game and can make a difference in a variety of ways.

Perhaps a copy of the night’s You Tube video above can be sent to the selection committee, just in case there are any more openings before the end of the month.


Pittsburgh Post Gazette--Snub fuels Malkin's hat trick in 4-1 victory over Rangers
Reuters--Malkin hat-trick powers Penguins past Rangers
Newsday--Rangers lose to Penguins, 4-1
Beaver County Times--Malkin driven by all-star snub
Pittsburgh Tribune Review--Malkin, Penguins rough up Rangers