Penguins' Evgeni Malkin draws inspiration from parents' 1st visit to PPG Paints Arena in years

Many could relate to the warm feeling that comes from performing well during a sporting event in front of one’s parents.

That’s something athletes of all ages cherish.

Evgeni Malkin did just that Thursday evening at PPG Paints Arena as the Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets, putting on quite the show for his parents, Vladimir and Natalia, who were in attendance.

While the 37-year-old Malkin’s parents have made the journey from Magnitogorsk, Russia, to Pittsburgh to watch their son play with the Penguins over the course of his ongoing 18-year NHL career, Thursday was particularly special.

Malkin scored two goals against the Blue Jackets, both on the power play, with his parents watching in person for the first time in several years.

“It’s long time ago. They’re not here since like I think 2018 or ‘19,” Malkin said. “It probably gave me a little more emotion. It works. … They give me a little bit of motivation. … It’s hard. They’re a little bit old, so it’s hard to fly almost 20 hours. I hope next year they stay whole year.”

A variety of reasons, including the covid-19 pandemic, have prevented Malkin’s parents from making their usual visits to Pittsburgh.

However, even when they can’t support their son in the flesh, Vladimir and Natalia Malkin are adamant about staying up to date with his doings in the NHL, as well as that of the Penguins (32-30-10).

“I know they watch every game from internet. They wake up like 3 a.m. in my hometown, and they watch every game,” Malkin said. “They know everything. Of course they not happy how we play all year. I mean team, they want (us to) make playoffs for sure.”

Malkin’s goals were Nos. 20 and 21 on the year and marked his first multi-score game since Dec. 27 against the New York Islanders.

They also were his first power-play scores in nearly two months dating to Dec. 30 against St. Louis.

His first tally gave him 20 goals in 15 seasons, which, per the Penguins, makes him only the 31st player in NHL history to do so.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second period, Malkin ripped a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle past Columbus netminder Daniil Tarasov for the Penguins’ first goal, tying the score 1-1.

That's 20 goals for Evgeni Malkin! ????

With this tally, @emalkin71geno becomes just the 31st player in NHL history, and fourth active player, with fifteen 20-goal seasons. pic.twitter.com/sNuznp6s4z

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 29, 2024

Later in the second, after the Blue Jackets had retaken the lead, Malkin scored again on the man-advantage, patiently waiting for an open shooting lane to emerge before firing the puck under Tarasov’s left leg.

HE IS SCORE... TWICE! ????????

Two for Columbus. Two for Geno. pic.twitter.com/0LGzruOjmv

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 29, 2024

“I think he was just looking shot or looking pass and was able to get a shot off and able to find the back of the net,” said captain Sidney Crosby, who notched the primary assist on the goal. “Just a smart play by him to just wait everybody out.”

Crosby detected his longtime teammate playing with an extra edge Thursday in front of his parents.

“I’m sure that motivated him tonight, to have them here,” Crosby said. “I know it would for all of us. You could definitely see it with the jump and energy he had, and, hopefully, they’re here for a while.”

Thursday’s win over Columbus continued the Penguins’ domination of the Blue Jackets that is approaching a decade.

The last time Columbus won in Pittsburgh was Nov. 13, 2015, a 2-1 win that preceded coach Mike Sullivan’s takeover of the team by about a month.

Since February of 2017, the Penguins are 21-3-2 overall against the Blue Jackets.

The Penguins won their second straight game Thursday and scored multiple power-play goals for the first time since March 5 against — wait for it — Columbus.

Up next for the Penguins are the same Blue Jackets, who, this time, will host at Nationwide Arena on Saturday night.

With the Penguins’ postseason hopes still alive, albeit on life support, a three-game win streak would be a very welcomed result.

Given how they seem to propel both their son and the Penguins to desired outcomes, two extra seats on the club’s upcoming flight to Columbus might need to be reserved for Malkin’s parents.

“We just need to keep going,” Crosby said. “It’s one of those things you’ve got to keep learning with every game and making sure that we’re trying to get better here. We have these guys again, so both teams will be familiar and we’ll look to keep going here.”