Pittsburgh Penguins: Malkin Takes Art, Crosby Hits 50, and Fleury Sets a Mark
By Rob Joncas
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had some fantastic events transpire on Apr. 11, over the years. Here is a look back at what Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Marc-Andre Fleury accomplished on that date.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had some fantastic events transpire on Apr. 11, over the years. Here is a look back at what Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Marc-Andre Fleury accomplished on that date.
Malkamania Runs Wild
In the third season of his career (2008-09), Malkin had one of his most productive campaigns.
Malkin scored 35 goals and 113 points, edging out Alex Ovechkin by three points to win his first of two Art Ross Trophies. The second was in 2011-2012.
Malkin’s Art Ross win was the 13th time, since 1988 that a Penguins player captured the trophy. Malkin joined Mario Lemieux (6), Jaromir Jagr (5) and Sidney Crosby (1) as the other Pittsburgh players to be named regular-season scoring champion.
Malkin also established career-high shots (531), average time on ice (20:51), hits (80), and takeaways (94). during the 2008-09 season, and was held off the scoresheet 18 times in 82 games and compiled point streaks of 13, 10, and 9 games.
Malkin’s most lethal game occurred on Mar. 17, 2009 vs. Atlanta, where he scored two goals and 5 points, in a 6-2 Penguins win.
Overall, Malkin compiled:
- four – 4 point games
- Six – 3 point games
- Twenty-one – 2 point games
- Thirty-two – 1 point games
Malkin closed out the season adding a Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup to his resume, not a bookend to an already great year.
The Wizard of Croz
With two goals in the final game of the regular season, Crosby reached the 50 goal mark for the first and only time of his career (so far) in a 6-5 victory over the New York Islanders, on Apr. 11, 2010.
Crosby finished the 2009-10 season tied for goals with Steven Stamkos (51 goals) and earned his first of two Rocket Richard Trophies.
During the 2009-10 season, Crosby collected a career-high three hat tricks:
- Oct. 28, 2009, vs. Buffalo Sabres
- Nov. 28, 2009, vs. New York Rangers
- Feb. 1, 2010, vs. Montreal Canadiens
and had:
- Twelve – two-goal games
- Eighteen – one-goal games
On a side note, since Crosby joined the league in 2005-06, he has scored 30 or more goals, 10 times.
Fantastical Fleury
On Apr. 11, 2015, Marc-Andre Fleury posted his 10th shut-out (SO) of the season, which is a career-best, in a 2-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Fleury surpassed the previous team record of 7 SO’s held by Tom Barrasso (1998), earlier in the season.
During his tenure with Pittsburgh Fleury also had:
- Three seasons with 5 SO’s
- Two seasons with 4 SO’s
- Two seasons with 3 SO’s
- Five seasons with 1 SO
Fleury brought his knack for winning with him to Las Vegas and came close to matching the SO mark he set in Pittsburgh. In 2018-29, Fleury had 8 SO’s with the Golden Knights and almost landed his fourth Stanley Cup title in 2017-18.
Which one of these events was your favorite? Drop a line below!