Melting Penguins Dissolve in Desert, Bow to Coyotes, 5-2

Early in his rookie season, October 24, 2006, to be exact, Evgeni Malkin scored an absolutely dazzling goal against New Jersey. One aptly described as “shades of Mario.”

Thrusting into the Devils’ zone like a dagger, Geno turned a defenseman to mush, went forehand-to-backhand while turning his entire body around and beat Hall-of-Fame goalie Martin Brodeur like Mike Lange’s rented mule.

An electric goal. A harbinger, not only of Malkin’s own Hall-of-Fame career to follow, but the Penguins’ dramatic rise from doormats to Stanley Cup champions as well.

Remember?

Last night, early in the third period of a soul-crushing 5-2 loss to the Coyotes that can best be described as an atrocity on ice, Malkin scored a goal of a decidedly different ilk.

With a delayed penalty about to be called on old friend Jason Zucker, Kris Letang wisely ragged the puck in our end to kill off a penalty to Jansen Harkins and maximize our own power play time. With a Coyote checker applying pressure, Tanger elected to drop the puck off to Malkin, who was drifting toward our untended net (Tristan Jarry had long since fled the scene).

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