3:10PM Wednesday
March 13, 2013

The Pittsburgh Penguins have to be considered a high-end Stanley Cup favorite. The NHL lockout actually help the team allowing Sidney Crosby to return to prime condition. Tonight, against the Tampa Bay Lightning the club gets yet another huge boost, with the return of superstar, Evgeni Malkin.Malkin, of course, led the NHL with 109 points last season. And, despite missing the last four games due to a concussion.Getting him back makes the Pens' already potent offense that much stronger, allowing them to put him on the ice with Sidney Crosby during power plays and whenever Dan Bylsma feels his club needs an extra push up front in crunch time. It also allows James Neal to skate alongside one of the best playmakers in the game, while Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis anchor the top line. And it gives Pittsburgh the luxury of sliding Brandon Sutter -- fresh off a two-goal game -- back down to the third line.It's this kind of scoring depth that suggests the Pittsburgh Penguin...