Mark Madden: Evgeni Malkin heads list of disappointing Penguins with playoffs looming

If you’re talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins, you can currently count on one man and one man only. That’s the captain.

Sidney Crosby willed his team to victory over visiting Nashville on Sunday with two goals and an assist, netting the winner in overtime.

Evgeni Malkin, meanwhile, is mostly a liability. He is a one-zone player and power-play specialist, doing little without the puck, prone to horrific turnovers and trying, at 35, to play like he did when he was 25.

Crosby won Sunday’s game. Malkin lost Saturday’s game against visiting Washington via an egregious late turnover that gifted the Capitals’ Tom Wilson a gilt-edged chance.

Since returning from knee surgery, Malkin has nine goals and nine assists at even strength in 37 games. Fourth-liner Brian Boyle has as many even-strength goals. Malkin is also minus-11. He has just two primary assists playing five-on-five. (That last stat beggars belief.)

Malkin flaunted his selfish streak Sunday when he cross-checked Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki in the face. That got him a four-game suspension at a time when the Penguins are trying to regroup after losing seven of 10 and dropping six points behind the New York Rangers in the race for home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

Then again, perhaps Malkin’s absence will help the Penguins regroup. Their structure hasn’t been as precise since he returned. It couldn’t be. That’s not his game.

There’s no solution beyond playing Malkin and hoping he does better. But he is not performing anywhere close to good enough.

Malkin’s contract is up at year’s end. He reportedly has offered to take a pay cut: $20 million over three years. (Malkin is making $9.5 million this season.)

At the level of play he is displaying, he’s not worth that. To sign him at that price would be indulging nostalgia. (To sign him at any price might be doing that.)

Malkin allegedly feels lowballed by the Penguins. When you’re a pending free agent and you get an offer you find insulting, you’re being told you’re not wanted. Get the message.

Malkin heads the list of most disappointing Penguins. But that’s a crowded house:

• Goalie Tristan Jarry has lost five straight and allowed three or more goals in five of his last seven starts. He has not been terrible. Just ordinary. Less big saves, more bad goals. Jarry’s stats used to rank among the NHL’s top three. Now they’re near the bottom of the top 10.

• As a rookie, defenseman John Marino was so good it was wondered if he could eventually usurp Kris Letang’s role as the No. 1 defenseman. Marino since has proven he can’t. Against Nashville, Marino got beat on a pinch, then quit on the play. He is getting worse, not better. Marino’s biggest problem may be not understanding there’s a problem.

• Brian Dumoulin has been so good for so long, it looks odd when he struggles. But he is, to the degree that his longtime partnership with Letang is no more and he is dropping down the depth chart. Dumoulin looks confused, like his confidence is shot.

• Defenseman Marcus Pettersson is a good defensive defenseman who usually utilizes reach and positioning in effective fashion. But Pettersson was scratched March 31 and April 2 and often has seen his minutes limited. Nashville’s Matt Duchene scored Sunday after blowing by Pettersson in a manner that made Pettersson look like he was standing still. Which he was.

That list is a bit heavy on the defensive side of the puck, especially because the Penguins have conceded the eighth-fewest goals in the league.

But my expectations aren’t great for most of the forwards. For example, Kasperi Kapanen never disappoints because he always disappoints. Danton Heinen isn’t supposed to be very good. Jason Zucker is too often hurt, but that’s a different kind if disappointment. He always gives max effort, and it was good to see him score Sunday.

The Crosby-fueled win over Nashville notwithstanding, the Penguins are struggling mightily and in danger of slipping from third place in the Metro Division to a wild-card spot. If that happens, the Penguins could switch to the Atlantic Division bracket and play Florida in the first round.

The Panthers have the most points in the Eastern Conference and have the NHL’s highest goal total at 302 in 72 games.

But the Panthers aren’t quite as fast as the New York Rangers. The Penguins are 1-2 against Florida this season. Every game was decided by one goal.

Is Florida a better matchup for the Penguins than the Rangers?

Not if the Penguins continue playing as they are. If the Penguins don’t follow Crosby’s lead, start performing better and get more buttoned-up, it won’t matter who they meet in the playoffs.