Evgeni Malkin's hat trick highlights milestone-filled Penguins rout of Panthers

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 4, 2026

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin hit 1,400 career points with a power-play goal early in the second period Saturday. He made it an even more special night from there.

The 39-year-old Penguins forward delivered a timeless performance, recording a hat trick and adding an assist in Pittsburgh’s 9-4 bludgeoning of the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena.

Erik Karlsson joined Malkin with four points, as the Penguins scored seven unanswered goals for the second time this week to break open a game that was tied at 2 through a period.

Sidney Crosby had two assists to move past Steve Yzerman for seventh on the all-time scoring list. Crosby also jumped Yzerman for the second-most points on one team.

The dominant win moves Pittsburgh closer to its first playoff appearance since 2022. The Panthers have won the past two Stanley Cups but were eliminated from the playoffs with the defeat Saturday amid an injury-riddled season.

Coming off a lackluster loss in Tampa Bay on Thursday, the Penguins played with incredible energy in the early moments of the game — and had a lead in 20 seconds.

Karlsson fired a crisp breakout pass off the boards to Elmer Soderblom, who chipped it ahead to Noel Acciari. Sergei Bobrovsky saved Acciari’s initial attempt, but the fourth-line forward got it back and tipped it over the Panthers netminder for the opening goal.

That foreshadowed two trends that would carry through the game: the fourth line dominating its shifts and Karlsson racking up points.

The defenseman got his second of the night less than five minutes later, firing in a shot from above the right circle off a Sidney Crosby pass to put the Penguins ahead 2-0.

The Panthers showed some fight from there, tying the game before the first intermission.

On Florida’s first goal, Penguins goalie Arturs Silovs conceded far too big a rebound on a routine Cole Reinhardt shot. A.J. Greer pounced on it and scored.

Seth Jones’ goal from the point hit a Penguin in front of the net but still inspired little confidence in Silovs.

Pittsburgh wouldn’t need much help from goaltending in the second period. The Penguins put together perhaps their most dominant stretch of the season, scoring six goals while conceding just six shots.

Anthony Mantha got it started with his 31st goal of the season less than two minutes in. This won’t go down as one of the prettiest, as it looked like he was passing to Justin Brazeau, but Gustav Forsling tipped it past his own netminder.

Malkin broke a five-game goal drought and registered his 1,400th NHL point to extend the lead four minutes later. He tipped in a pass from Karlsson.

Crosby’s secondary helper on the play pushed him over Yzerman on the all-time scoring list.

Malkin quickly made it 1,401, tipping in a Tommy Novak pass to put the Penguins in front by three.

Soderblom and the fourth-line showed Bobrovsky the door with another laser tip less than 90 seconds later, giving Pittsburgh a 6-2 lead less than halfway through the game.

Daniil Tarasov didn’t fare much better in the Florida net. Rickard Rakell scored his ninth goal in nine games on a beautiful backhand, off a power-play pass from Malkin.

Karlsson’s assist on the play was his fourth point of the night.

The Penguins kept pouring it on. Ryan Shea rifled in his sixth goal of the season — equaling his point total in 70 career games before this season — to put Pittsburgh in front 8-2 before the second intermission.

Malkin secured his 14th career hat trick 3:30 into the third period, beating Tarasov from close range.

Florida’s Noah Gregor flew past Connor Clifton and scored on a breakaway for a cosmetic goal with about 12 minutes left.

The Panthers got another one back later in the period, as Mackie Samoskevich sniped a shot over Silovs on the rush.

It was over when …

Soderblom’s goal that put the Penguins in front by four less than 10 minutes in the second period was probably the dagger. But Pittsburgh kept adding insurance after.

Stat of the game

— 10: The combined points for Crosby, Malkin and Karlsson in a brilliant night for the Penguins’ veterans.

Around the boards

— The Penguins assigned defenseman Harrison Brunicke to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Saturday after he finished his season with the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League.

The 19-year-old began the season with the Penguins but played just nine games, so the first year of his entry-level contract didn’t kick in. He played a five-game AHL conditioning stint in November and December, registering four assists.

— Malkin became the fifth player born outside of North America to hit 1,400 career points. He’s the 23rd player in NHL history to reach the mark.

Up next

The Penguins will have a Groundhog Day experience on Easter, playing the Panthers again at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday (3 p.m.). It’s the second-to-last home game of the season, with the regular-season home finale set for next Saturday vs. the Capitals.