Malkin's November A "Great One"

While there has been a lot of talk about Evgeni Malkin's lack of goal production this season, November was still a "great one" for the Pittsburgh Penguin superstar.

Evgeni Malkin's 21 assists in 15 November games were the most in any calendar month since Wayne Gretzky's 21 for the Los Angeles Kings in January, 1996.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Stanley Cup Favorites?

The Pittsburgh Penguins have won 9 games in a row and have the second most points in the Eastern Conference. As the playoffs near, do you think things can not get much better? You bet they can. On Thursday night against the Rangers they welcome back the game's best player in Sidney Crosby and possibly their best defenseman in Kris Letang.

Crosby's long awaited return is tempered over concerns about his long term health. He has essentially lost 15 months due to concussion. In his brief come back earlier this season he exited 8 games later after a seemingly routine hit. Will he be able to withstand the NHL playoffs? Even if he can, can he ever be the same elite player he was just emerging to be? Of lesser concern is his conditioning, although Crosby at 70% is better than most players.

Letang could also return on Thursday vs New York. If not his return is imminent. He has emerged as a top defenseman in the NHL and is likely to play for Team Canada's 2014 Olympic team. He is a game changer.

The return of Crosby and Letang is one heck of a boost for a team that is already a Stanley Cup contender. Evgeni Malkin has carried the team offensively and in spirit. Marc Andre Fleury has been really solid and at times spectacular in net. Coach Dan Bylsma may very well be the best coach in hockey right now. And the Pens depth players deserve a lot of credit for making the Penguins so strong in Crosby's absence.

Predicting this year's playoffs is a real tough task. Many of the usual suspects - Detroit, Vancouver, San Jose, Boston, Chicago - have nose dived of late. St. Louis is the league's hottest team, but are they ready to win four playoff rounds? I'm not so convinced. As of this date I really like Nashville in the west.

But Pittsburgh with a healthy Crosby and a motivated Malkin could very well be the team to beat. 

MVP: Stamkos or Malkin?

Steven Stamkos is having an amazing 2012. Since Christmas Stamkos has scored 28 goals in 32 games. That is an unreal pace. He actually has a chance at 60 goals.

At the same time Tampa Bay has quietly climbed back into playoff contention. They currently sit in 10th place with 68 points (tied with Buffalo). That puts them one point back of the free falling Washington Capitals in 9th, and three points back of Winnipeg in 8th. Now Winnipeg has a pretty favorable schedule down the stretch, and two games in hand. But if the Lightning somehow ride Stamkos incredible second half into a playoff spot, you have to put him in the Hart Trophy conversation as the league MVP.

Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin appeared to be the runaway favorite as league MVP prior to Stamkos' recent charge. Malkin has carried the Penguins' in Sidney Crosby's absence. In fact they are poised to be a solid Eastern contender for the Stanley Cup this spring. If Crosby could actually comeback against long odds, the Penguins might be the odds on favourite to win the Stanley Cup.

The third candidate for MVP will likely New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. He has backstopped the Rangers to challenge for the Presidents Trophy all season long.

Check Out Malkin - Datsyuk Will Be.

Evgeni Malkin is the second NHL player to either score or assist on each of his team's first five goals in a Stanley Cup Final series. Henri Richard did that for Montreal in the 1960 Finals.

Malkin had an assist on the Penguins' only goal in Game 1, he scored their lone goal in Game 2, and he assisted on Pittsburgh's first three goals in Game 3.

Since 1997, the only other players to record three assists in a Stanley Cup Final game were New Jersey's Patrik Elias (Game 1 in 2000 vs. Dallas) and Carolina's Matt Cullen (Game 2 in 2006 vs. Edmonton) .

Malkin has been good, maybe even great as Eric Duhatschek suggests. Zetterberg and Lidstrom all over Crosby, Malkin has needed to be. There have been a couple of times where he did not score and it would have been absolutely crucial that he did.

It sounds like Malkin will have a harder time going forward though. MVP candidate and likely two-time Selke Trophy winner Pavel Datsyuk looks set to return to Detroit's already incredibly deep roster.

I'm still catching up on the news from my camping trip. Here's some reading I found of interest:

Mario says Crosby better than he was at age 21 - IllegalCurve.com looks at some numbers, and it's hard to agree with Mario on this one. Sid is great, but he's no Mario. Mind you, it took Mario 7 years to make the playoffs. Sid is in his 2nd Stanley Cup finals before the age of 22.

Ray Emery Is Coming Back To NHL - Philly fascination with average goalies continues. The good news - out west we can put to rest the Luongo to Philly trade talk.

Puck Daddy Talks To Brett's Daddy - Bobby Hull will always be the Golden Jet in my books.

What Happens To Hat Trick Hats - More from Puck Daddy. Greg Wyshynski answers the question, complete with an ice girl hottie.

Serge Savard Won't Buy Habs - I know he's done very well for himself, and has some high placed friends, but the asking price is too steep. And I'm not even convinced the Habs are for sale.

Nitzy's Old Hockey Ads - Chris Mizzoni's blog may be the most under-the-radar gem of the blogosphere.