Pens Tidbits: Malkin named to All-Star game; Shero talks Crosby; McDonald, MacIntyre to WBS

Afternoon Pens Tidbits

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin will be the Penguins lone representative in the 2012 NHL All-Star game. Malkin who has re-emerged himself as one of the premier players, is 8th in the league with 45 points. He is averaging 1.29 points per game, the second best mark in the league behind Claude Giroux who is averaging 1.30 points per game.

GM Ray Shero had some great remarks about Malkin today. “The best story of the year so far is Evgeni Malkin,” Shero told the Penguins official site. “He’s re-established himself, he’s a leader on the hockey team, playing fantastic hockey, a top player in the league, a go to guy on the ice. He really enjoys that. He puts pressure on himself and he cares, he wants to win. Him leading the way bodes well for our future.”

That's a great quote from Shero as Malkin's performance this season coming off knee surgery seems to be going under the radar from a media perspective.

James Neal and Marc Andre Fleury, the two other Penguins who were expected to get strong consideration, were not named to the team.

A good argument could have been made for Neal.  The 24-year right wingers ranks 6th in the NHL with 21 goals and 30th in points with 36. His 10 power play goals rank 1st in NHL.

Fleury is tied for 5th in wins with 19, 10th in the NHL in Goals against average (2.29) among goalies who have appeared in 15 games or more. Fleury though ranks 37th in the NHL with a .912 save percentage.