"Just when the Penguins need him most, the old Evgeni Malkin has surfaced.

Malkin, 10 months removed from significant knee surgery and a couple of years removed from the best-player-in-the-world discussion, is the NHL's hottest player.

And maybe its best.

With so many key players out of the lineup, Malkin is being leaned on more heavily than any point in his career. The star center is clearly up to the challenge.

"And he needs to be," left wing Matt Cooke said. "He's the guy right now. He can't look anywhere else. It's got to be on him, and he knows that. He understands that, and he's playing very well.""