Evgeni Malkin's First Hat Trick in Four Years Sends Pittsburgh Past Florida 9-4 and Into Playoff Contention

The Pittsburgh Penguins just reminded the NHL why you never count them out. Evgeni Malkin dropped a hat trick for the first time since 2022, Sidney Crosby moved into the top 10 all-time scorers, and Pittsburgh buried Florida 9-4 on Saturday night at PPG Paints Arena. This wasn't just a win. This was a statement. The Penguins are now two points closer to clinching a playoff spot.

Malkin's Monster Night Sets the Tone

Malkin came absolutely unhinged. Three goals, one assist, and a place in NHL history on the same night. He became the 23rd player in league history and the fifth European to reach 1,400 career points. His hat trick was his 14th career, the first one since March 27, 2022, against Detroit. When you're scoring that late in your career at that pace, people notice. He added an unassisted goal 3:30 into the third period to essentially seal the deal. The man was everywhere.

Crosby Climbs the Mountain, Role Players Step Up

Crosby's two assists pushed him to 1,756 career points, one more than Steve Yzerman for seventh all-time. Erik Karlsson chipped in with a goal and three assists for his first four-point game since April 1, 2023. Anthony Mantha, Elmer Soderblom, Rickard Rakell, Noel Acciari, and Ryan Shea all scored. A dozen Pittsburgh players registered at least a point. That's balanced scoring. That's a team firing on all cylinders.

Pittsburgh jumped out 2-0 early with Acciari scoring just 20 seconds in on a putback and Karlsson adding a power-play goal with 14:54 left in the first. Florida clawed back to tie it 2-2, but the Penguins' second period was where dreams went to die. Six goals in one period for the first time since December 12, 2024. Mantha's team-leading 31st goal came less than two minutes into the second. The rout was on. Arturs Silovs stopped 19 shots.

For Florida, it just keeps getting worse. The Panthers gave up nine goals for the second time this season and officially became the first defending Stanley Cup champion to miss the next season's playoffs since the Los Angeles Kings in 2015. A.J. Greer scored a goal and assist. Seth Jones, Noah Gregor, and Mackie Samoskevich also found the back of the net. Sergei Bobrovsky made 13 saves before getting pulled midway through the second period. Daniil Tarasov came in cold, facing 12 shots and stopping nine.

Pittsburgh sits at 39-22-16 with 94 points. Florida is 37-36-3 with 77. The gap between contender and pretender just got a whole lot wider.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.