NHL scores 2017: Evgeni Malkin, Penguins get the last laugh against the Jets

Strange how one hit almost a month ago set the tone for the entirety of the Penguins and Jets matchup on Wednesday. The signs were there that the game would be explosive, but no one knew how bad it’d be.

The first period featured two fights — one, the promised Evgeni Malkin and Blake Wheeler bout in retribution for last month’s hit — and the second led to the ejection of Tom Sestito after an egregiously bad hit. The game itself also had a lot of goals and a three-point evening from Malkin.

Malkin was the talked about player last time these teams met because of his hit on Wheeler that sparked the bad blood on Wednesday. This time, Malkin was the centerpiece because of the way he took over the game offensively. Every time the Jets seemed to gain momentum after Wheeler’s fight, Malkin answered. In fact, Malkin had a Gordie Howe hat trick by the night’s end.

He also had help in the form of a Nick Bonino hat trick, key power plays, and some extremely suspect Winnipeg goaltending.

The Jets were close to keeping their momentum from their early goals, but a few bad goals spiraled into frustration and eventually, a 7-4 defeat. Instead of grabbing two key points in the wild card race, the Jets crumbled under the unrelenting wave that is the Penguins.

Let this be a lesson to all: never make Malkin angry.

Senators 5, Stars 2
Penguins 7, Jets 4
Bruins 6, Red Wings 1

1. Danny DeKeyser had a no good, very bad game

The Bruins had a very easy time going through the Red Wings’ defense on Wednesday in a 6-1 victory. The reason for two of those goals against? The play of defenseman Danny DeKeyser, as Boston scored both goals on back-to-back shifts by DeKeyser.

Detroit also struggled because it managed just 15 shots on net until the last frame. Still, DeKeyser’s evening sums up the Red Wings’ season quite aptly.

2. Winnipeg’s special teams needs work

We touched on Malkin’s part in the Jets’ demise on Wednesday, but another reason for their loss was due to their special teams play. Winnipeg allowed the Penguins to score three times on the power play, twice in 20 seconds that turned the tide in the second period, all the while scoring on none of their four opportunities.

3. Goaltending was also absent for the Stars

As they have all season, the Stars lived and died by their goaltending on Wednesday. Kari Lehtonen allowed three goals on 18 shots and was pulled after allowing the Senators to go up 3-0 early in the second. Antti Niemi didn’t fare much better, as he allowed Ottawa to score on the first shot he faced that evening.

So it goes, Dallas.

Tom Sestito’s hit on Toby Enstrom is more than likely going to be looked at by the league.