Penguins Shock Avalanche in 7-2 Rout

Evgeni Malkin scores twice as Pittsburgh cruises past NHL's best team

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:21am

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The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off a surprising 7-2 road victory over the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL's top team, led by a dominant performance from veteran center Evgeni Malkin who scored two goals.

Why it matters

This win is a major statement for the Penguins, who have been dealing with injuries to key players like Sidney Crosby but have now shown they can still compete with and defeat the league's elite teams on the road.

The details

Malkin opened the scoring with a spinning backhander shortly after being released from the penalty box, setting the tone for the Penguins' offensive onslaught. The Avalanche briefly tied it, but Pittsburgh responded quickly with a breakaway goal from Anthony Mantha and then piled on, scoring early and often in the first two periods.

  • The game was played on March 17, 2026.

The players

Evgeni Malkin

A veteran center for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals in the team's 7-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon

The star center for the Colorado Avalanche who briefly tied the game at 1-1 in the first period.

Anthony Mantha

A Penguins forward who scored a breakaway goal to give Pittsburgh the lead for good after Colorado had tied it.

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What’s next

The Penguins will look to build on this impressive road win as they continue their challenging road trip.

The takeaway

Despite key injuries, the Penguins have shown they can still compete with and defeat the NHL's elite teams, giving them confidence as they push for a playoff spot in the competitive Eastern Conference.