"You couldn't blame the Penguins if they were tired of talking about Evgeni Malkin.

Of having to grasp for superlatives to describe what they are seeing him do virtually every game.

Of trying to explain how a guy can respond to challenges so often, and so brilliantly.

Doesn't seem to be an issue with them, though.

It certainly wasn't after their 5-4 shootout victory Friday night against Montreal at Consol Energy Center, when Malkin put the game into overtime by scoring with less than three minutes left in regulation, then was the only player on either team to score during the shootout.

"You never get tired of it," forward Dustin Jeffrey said. "Because every night, it's something different."

Malkin has at least one goal in five consecutive games, his longest streak since Feb. 9-17, 2008, and is looking almost like he could score at will. Or, perhaps, can simply will himself to score when the situation demands it.

"We were losing and I wanted to win this game," he said. "I didn't play great the first two periods. I just wanted to play better in the third.""