Evgeni Malkin has looked like a completely different player after Four Nations break

Ever since the Penguins returned from the long break and activated Evgeni Malkin from the IR because of his injury, he has looked like a completely different player. He is always skating fast, he is always getting in on the forecheck, and recently he has been scoring goals.

No goals have been bigger than the two he scored in Thursday night's win over the Flyers. Malkin's first goal tied the game at 4 early in the third period and his second one won the game for the Penguins in overtime. Malkin helped bring the Penguins all the way back from a 3-0 deficit against the Flyers and defeat their crosstown rivals.

Malkin still played well against Philadelphia despite not having great linemates

Malkin is used to having Michael Bunting on his left wing and Bunting is usually his primary left wing and Malkin's right wing changes a lot from Cody Glass to Anthony Beauvillier to Danton Heinen to others.

But Malkin did not have Bunting on Thursday because he had to have surgery to take his appendix out so there went one of his wingers. And so Malkin was given Beauvillier and Glass as his wingers. Beauvillier plays better with Crosby and Glass is not a top 6 winger.

Glass is better in the bottom six. But that did not stop Malkin from scoring twice to help the Penguins win Thursday.

The Penguins need Malkin if they want to go on a run in March

It obviously has been said before but if the Penguins want to find more wins especially approaching one of the last months of the season, they are going to need Malkin to continue to contribute.

That is easier said than done because like Crosby and Letang, he is not gettig any younger and he has been slowing down year after year. But with his recent play the last few games, he has been a man on a mission and hopes to not slow down as the season winds down.

If the Penguins are to have any slim chance at the postseason, they are going to need Malkin to keep scoring and putting up points.