On this date in Penguins history: Malkin explodes for Eastern Conference Final hat trick

The Penguins won Game 2 of the series by a score of 7-4.

Fifteen years ago today, Evgeni Malkin exploded for a hat trick in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes at Mellon Arena.

The hat trick included one of Malkin’s signature goals of his career.

The Penguins headed into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final coming off of a tight 3-2 win in Game 1 and were looking to take a tighter hold on the series.

Enter Evgeni Malkin.

After a back-and-forth opening new minutes of the game and a tied 1-1 score, Malkin scored his first of the game.

Going into the second period, the Penguins were trailing 3-2 and goals from Max Talbot and Chris Kunitz gave the team a 4-3 lead going into the third.

Another Carolina goal made it 4-4 early in the third and that’s when Malkin hit another gear.

My goodness.

Just like that, it was 6-4 and an empty net goal from Tyler Kennedy made it 7-4.

The Penguins would go on to win the next two games of the series and punch their ticket back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight year.