Penguins winger Reilly Smith quickly connects with Evgeni Malkin on 2nd line

As the Pittsburgh Penguins entered the third period Friday against Washington, both analytical data and observations made by the naked eye suggested forward Reilly Smith was due for a goal.

The 32-year-old winger had wasted little time in appearing to mesh with linemates Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell, resulting in several solid looks during the Penguins’ season opener against Chicago on Tuesday and again in Washington.

And yet, none found the back of the net.

Perhaps most notable among those opportunities was a sure-looking wrister Smith launched during the second period against the Blackhawks, which netminder Petr Mrazek managed to deny with an impressive glove save.

Petr Mrazek with a nifty glove stop on Reilly Smith#Blackhawks | #NHLFaceoff pic.twitter.com/AkE9PEgRrZ

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 11, 2023

Smith didn’t have to wait much longer to score his first goal in a Penguins sweater as he buried a snap shot over Washington’s Charlie Lindgren with about three minutes remaining in the game.

Malkin had sent an unimpeded precision pass from the defensive zone all the way up the ice to Smith, who took control of the puck and fired his shot from the left faceoff circle.

Reilly Smith takes Malkin's terrific dish into the zone and snipes one home to put the Penguins up by 4!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/vRHFVCI2H6

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 14, 2023

“He does such a good job of finding open space,” Smith said of Malkin. “He’s able to beat his backchecker up the ice a lot, and I think that creates a lot of rushes.”

By the end of that contest, a 4-0 Penguins win, Smith was leading the club’s forwards in expected goals (2.14) and shots (11).

Expected goals are calculated by weighing a number of factors on a given unblocked shot attempt, including the shooter himself, location on the ice and type of shot, all of which is used to determine the probability it results in a goal.

Thus, by the end of Friday’s game in Washington, based on his shots through two games played, Smith should have netted at least pair of goals.

Of course, analytics aren’t always reflected in reality.

Smith nonetheless continued to get opportunities in his club’s third game of the season Saturday against Calgary.

Trailing 1-0 as the third period began, Smith buried a wrister past Jacob Markstrom only 23 seconds after Bryan Rust scored the Penguins’ first goal of the game.

Reilly Smith wires Malkin's pass home for Pittsburgh's second goal in 23 seconds!#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/LDZ5KeP1Zq

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 15, 2023

Malkin got the primary assist on the goal, feeding Smith on a two-on-one, with Rakell collecting an assist as well.

“We like (Smith’s) game with Geno,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “We were hoping that that might be something that would work. I think one of Riley’s biggest strengths is his hockey IQ. Geno’s a guy that’s a real instinctive player. Because of that, there’s an element of unpredictability in his game and that’s not always easy to play with as a player.

“I think Reilly’s hockey IQ really allows him to see it on both sides of the puck when Geno’s gonna do his thing — whether he needs to take a defensive posture or whether he can find ice. Geno usually finds him when he does. Reilly has the ability to see that with his hockey IQ.”

Smith’s hot start shouldn’t exactly be a surprise.

Since debuting for Dallas in 2010-11, he has posted 20-goal campaigns with three different clubs (Boston, Florida and Vegas), helping the Knights to victory in the Stanley Cup Finals last summer.

On the year, he scored 26 goals with the Knights, one shy of tying his career high set with Vegas in 2019-20.

An offseason trade acquisition who has filled the place of Malkin’s previous left winger, Jason Zucker, Smith’s landing has been a soft and productive one so far.

After his goal early in the third Saturday, Smith assisted on Malkin’s second goal of the season with about six minutes left in the game.

Through three games, Malkin’s line has scored four of the Penguins’ 11 goals to date and added six assists.

“I hope we keep going the same,” Malkin said. “He’s a great player, a great shot, a great skilled guy. I just give him the puck. The last couple of games, we play pretty well. … Just stay focused, stay positive and help each other.”