Evgeni Malkin, Kasperi Kapanen snap scoring slumps as Penguins beat Coyotes

With the NHL’s trade deadline looming (Monday, 3 p.m.), the Penguins’ roster could look different in a matter of days.

Or it might not. There has been little to suggest general manager Ron Hextall is in position with regards to the franchise’s salary cap flexibility to make a significant transaction.

Either way, forward Kasperi Kapanen’s name has been bandied about in potential trades simply because his limited production hasn’t matched his generous salary ($3.2 million per season).

Not that Kapanen has paid much attention to those discussions.

“I’ve always been rumored around this league for as long as I’ve been in the league,” Kapanen said to media in Glendale, Ariz. “It’s just another day at the office. It’s not something that I’m thinking about.”

Kapanen and fellow Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin had something positive to ruminate on Saturday: goals.

Both players broke out of scoring slumps and helped their team earn a 4-1 road win against the Arizona Coyotes Gila River Arena.

For Kapanen, his scored his first goal since Jan. 23 — breaking a 20-game slump without a goal — while Malkin snapped a five-game streak — the longest of his career — without a point.

The celebrations for each player’s goal were pronounced, especially for Malkin, who looked more relieved than jubilant after scoring what proved to be the winning goal in the third period.

“There aren’t too many guys that get more excited about scoring goals than (Malkin),” coach Mike Sullivan said. “He really likes to score. He’s also a real competitive guy. He wants to help our team.

“He was in beast mode all night. We were happy for him.”

Kapanen opened the scoring at 2 minutes, 9 seconds of the second period. After emerging from a puck battle on the right wing boards of the offensive zone, Penguins forward Jeff Carter fed a pass across the front of the crease to set up Kapanen for his 10th goal of the season.

Teammates mobbed Kapanen in celebration. Carter, who may have been happier than Kapanen over the score, logged the lone assist.

“Scoring a goal, obviously, feels amazing,” Kapanen said. “But just seeing everybody be that happy for me just makes me feel that much more connected with this group.”

Coyotes forward Clayton Keller tied the game with a determined effort at xx of the second period. Off a stretch pass by Coyotes defenseman Anton Stralman, Coyotes forward Clayton Keller streaked between Penguins defensemen John Marino and Mike Matheson like a comet to attack the cage. Goaltender Tristan Jarry appeared to initially stop Keller’s wrister with his left leg but momentum carried Jarry and the puck into the cage, resulting in Keller’s 27th goal. The only assist went to Stralman.

Malkin’s winning goal came at 12:36 of the third period. Claiming a loose puck in the Coyotes’ left corner, Penguins forward Bryan Rust centered a pass to the slot. After Coyotes defenseman Kyle Copabianco momentarily broke up the sequence, Malkin settled the puck and tapped a backhander on net that Wedgewood denied. On the ensuing rebound, Malkin jabbed the puck through Wedgewood’s arms for the eventual game-winning goal. Rust netted the only assist.

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby secured victory with his 21st goal of the season at the 18:10 mark. After a turnover at his own blue line by Coyotes forward Matias Maccelli, Crosby corralled the puck, gained the offensive zone and fed a pass to linemate Jake Guentzel on the left wing. From the left circle, Guentzel cut inside Coyotes defenseman Dysin Mayo and fed a pass to the left of the cage where Crosby darted in, went backhand to forehand and jabbed in a shot under the glove of a scrambling Wedgewood. The only assist was credited to Guentzel.

Crosby added an empty net goal – the Penguins lead the NHL with 19 such goals – at the 18:10 mark off assists from Guentzel and defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

Jarry made 20 saves on 21 shots as his record improved to 31-12-6. Wedgewood, a long-time nuisance to the Penguins dating to his time with the New Jersey Devils, was stout as he made 45 saves on 48 shots, a season-high for the Penguins.

Regardless of how the Penguins’ roster might look by Monday, they likely will need continued contributions from the likes of Malkin and Kapanen for the remainder of the season to sustain success.

“When you’re getting opportunities and they’re not going in, it’s never easy,” Crosby said. “But you just got to trust they will eventually. Both (Malkin) and (Kapanen) to get one is huge.”

Notes:

• Malkin recorded his 1,000th career penalty minute when he was assessed with a goaltending interference minor at 15:47 of the second period. Only former All-Star forward Kevin Stevens (1,048) has recorded more penalty minutes with the franchise.

Malkin, who also has 1,129 points in 967 games, became the 35th member of the NHL’s “1,000-1,000 club” for points and penalty minutes.

His predecessors in alphabetical order via Hockey-Reference: