Evgeni Malkin admits the truth after Penguins loss

In what was truly one of the more bitter losses in recent Pittsburgh Penguins history, they were unable to convert on a full 5-on-3 power play on Monday night at PPG Paints Arena against the visiting Anaheim Ducks, only to see Mason MacTavish sprung from the penalty box and break in alone on goaltender Tristan Jarry before depositing the game-winning goal glove side with just under 12 seconds remaining in regulation.

The setback would set the Penguins back to a 3-6-0 record through the first nine games of the season, and as it currently stands, they are dead last in the NHL's Metropolitan Division.

For veteran forward Evgeni Malkin, who hit the post just seconds before MacTavish's goal, it comes down to the fact that his team can't play the way they did and expect to come away with two points.

“It’s our fault, for sure, the first unit power play,” Malkin said. “We lost the game. It’s tough. Between win and loss, it’s like, one mistake, you know? We should play better, because the team fought all night. We can’t play like this.”

The Penguins and new general manager Kyle Dubas are attempting to give it one last kick at the can with the franchise core trio of Sidney Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang still playing. Dubas also brought in Stanley Cup winning forward Reilly Smith in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights as well as Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.

However, things have not materialized as expected so far in the young season.

“If we do not score, we can’t give them a breakaway,” Malkin continued. “We know it’s coming, and I know it’s coming. I should maybe go a little bit back and play safety. But we think about a goal, we try to score, we try to win the game. It’s a tough loss.”

The Penguins have no choice but to figure things out in a hurry before the season slips away from them and they fall out of playoff contention for the 2nd straight year.

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