Malkin wins 1st NHL scoring title; Penguins win regular season finale

Saturday night was a night of celebration for the Penguins as the team won their season finale 3-1 against the Montreal Canadiens and remain in the hunt for the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Max Talbot and Kris Letang added shorthanded goals and Marc Andre Fleury made 29 saves to record his 35th win of the season. Evgeni Malkin (35) also scored for the Penguins who outshot the Canadiens 41-30.

With a Carolina loss Saturday afternoon, the Penguins (99 pts) will finish no worst than 5th in the Eastern Conference and will face their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers (99 pts)  in the first round.

A Flyers regulation loss to the Rangers Sunday afternoon gives the Penguins home-ice in the first round.

The top story of the night was Evgeni Malkin (35 goals – 78 assists – 113 pts) winning his first NHL scoring title. Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin had a two point night in his regular season finale to finish the season with 110 points.

Malkin joins Mario Lemieux (6 scoring titles), Jaromir Jagr (5 scoring titles), and Sidney Crosby (1 scoring title) as Penguins who have previously won NHL scoring titles.

Winning the scoring title meant a lot for Evgeni Malkin. He was all smiles following the game and all of the players in the locker room were pulling for him.

Malkin has really opened up this season and doesn’t say much but he has become a leader in the locker room in the most important way; “leading by example”

Sources tell me interim head coach Dan Bylsma wants defenseman