Last night's action
Buffalo 6, Florida 2
Carolina 2, Montreal 1
Tampa 2, Pittsburgh 0
Chicago at Minnesota
San Jose at Dallas
Anaheim at Colorado
Phoenix at Calgary
******
NUMBERS DON'T LIE
Do the Penguins need Evgeni Malkin going into the playoffs?
Malkin missed last night's game against Tampa Bay, the seventh game in the past two weeks he's sat out due to soreness in his right foot. Now the numbers speak; with Malkin not dressed this season, the Penguins are 5-7-1 with two of those wins in shootouts. He missed seven games earlier in the season with a shoulder injury. And, the Penguins have been outscored 44-28 in games Malkin did not dress. In recent days that has improved as the Pens have scored 11 times in their last three games. Malkin's absence also affects Sidney Crosby, even though they aren't linemates except on the power play. Crosby has scored 45 of his 47 goals in the 63 games he has played with Malkin.
BERNIER SHOULD STICK
Jonathan Bernier should hang with the L.A. Kings through the season and be eligible for playoffs. Bernier, the Kings' first-round pick in the 2006 draft, is 2-0-0 in the two starts he's had.
Starter Jonathan Quick has tanked, going 3-7-1 in his last 11 starts. Bernier was 23-24-4 with a 2.40 GAA and .910 save percentage in his 54 starts this season with AHL Manchester.