PITTSBURGH — Brand-new locker room humorist Evgeni Malkin is making fun of his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates in two languages, and they’re loving it.
Coach Dan Bylsma is pleased because Malkin is laughing at his dry-humor witticisms. Sidney Crosby doesn’t have a goal in the Stanley Cup finals, yet he’s smiling, too.
The yuk-it-up Penguins trail the defending champion Detroit Red Wings 2-1 going into Game 4 tonight, but it was difficult to tell from their off-day levity that they weren’t ahead.
They’re not acting at all like they did when they were down a game in this same situation last year, against the same opponent. And it’s certainly not because Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk, who is capable of winning a game at both ends of the ice, expects to play after sitting out six games with a foot injury.
“It’s a lot different than last year, that’s for sure,” Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik said Wednesday.
That was evident as Malkin repeatedly made fun of teammate Max Talbot, whose two goals during Pittsburgh’s 4-2 victory in Game 3 Tuesday included one into an empty net.
Malkin did it in English, too, rather than the native Russian that the NHL regular- season scoring champion used before this season, with defenseman Sergei Gonchar acting as his interpreter.
Malkin: “I’m seeing how Max plays, it’s a lot of emotion … and a little bit bad hands. He has a lot of scoring chances, but (does) not score. Just empty net.”
Talbot: “I’m speechless right now, thanks Geno.”
Avalanche fire coach
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche promoted Greg Sherman to general manager and fired coach Tony Granato and five others in a sweeping shakeup Wednesday. Sherman has spent the last seven years as the team’s assistant general manager.
The Avalanche also fired assistant coaches Jacques Cloutier and Dave Barr, goaltending coach Jeff Hackett, assistant to the general manager Michel Goulet and video coordinator P.J. DeLuca.
New contract for Krejci
BOSTON — Boston Bruins forward David Krejci will have a little something to make him feel better when he goes in for surgery today: A three-year contract worth more than $11 million. The 23-year-old Czech signed this week just days before he is scheduled to have surgery on a torn labrum in his hip. Krejci said he hopes to be back for the start of the regular season, but he could miss the first month.
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