The Pittsburgh Penguins stayed hot on Thursday, notching their sixth straight win with a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins got a boost from Evgeni Malkin, who returned from an upper-body injury after missing over a month. Malkin scored in his first game since Dec. 4, notching his ninth goal of the season and the 523rd of his career.
Not surprisingly, the three-time Stanley Cup champion got plenty of love from Pittsburgh fans in his return to the ice, especially after scoring.
After the game, Malkin praised Penguins fans for their support and gave the Steelers a special shout-out ahead of their upcoming playoff game against the Houston Texans.
“Love our fans. Always amazing to play at home. Thanks to all the fans,” Malkin told reporters after the game. “Steelers play Monday. People love sports here. Good luck to the Steelers, too, as well.”
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Now in his 20th season with the Penguins, Malkin knows how special Pittsburgh fans are and how passionate they are about their sports teams. He’s given them plenty to cheer for during his two decades with the Penguins, including another win and goal on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are preparing to host the Texans on Monday in the Wild Card Round. They just clinched the AFC North in Week 18 with a wild win over the Baltimore Ravens, so they’re hoping to replicate that success on Monday and earn their first postseason win in nine years.
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Featured image via Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images