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PITTSBURGH — Ryan Malone has a broken, aching schnozzle that no longer runs straight down his face, a swollen lip, four chipped teeth and several stitches.
But he'll be back in his office Wednesday night, standing in front of the Detroit Red Wings' net, looking to deflect the pucks his teammates will be firing his way.
Some might think the Pittsburgh Penguins winger might be a little gun-shy after taking one of those pucks, which came off the stick of his teammate Hal Gill, on the face Monday night in the Penguins' 4-3 triple overtime win.
No way, he said Wednesday morning after the Pens' game-day skate. This is the Stanley Cup final, the Wings are up 3-2 and the Penguins have to win again to stay alive.
“Anyone else in this room would be doing the same thing,” Ryan Malone says. “I’m definitely thankful. A broken nose, swollen lip and some chipped teeth are a pretty good scenario for a puck in the face.' (Gene Puskar/The Associated Press)
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- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Hal Gill
- Sergei Gonchar
- Niklas Kronwall
- Evgeni Malkin
- Ryan Malone
- Jordan Staal
"Anyone else in this room would be doing the same thing," Malone said. "I'm definitely thankful. A broken nose, swollen lip and some chipped teeth are a pretty good scenario for a puck in the face.
"I look at it as you never know when you're going to be back in the Stanley Cup final, so you have to do everything you can to help out."
Actually, Malone's nose was already broken before Gill's shot hit him. Red Wings defenceman Niklas Kronwall did that in the first game when he flattened Malone with a bone-rattling body check. When Gill's shot broke it again, it was practically old hat.
"Yeah, you can get drilled a lot," Malone said. "You're standing in front of the net. That's my job. On the power play, I'll be back there again.
"It's part of the game. Sometimes it bounces that way, so you just have to deal with it."
Malone has been familiar longer than most players with what is part of the game. His father, Greg, played in the NHL for 11 full seasons, seven of them with the Penguins. The younger Malone, 28, just finished his fourth NHL season but noted he is drawing closer to his father in one time-honoured hockey category — damaged teeth.
"I've got 10 left to catch my dad, so I'm gaining on him quicker than I thought," Malone said.
Also back in the lineup will be Penguins defenceman Sergei Gonchar. He was lost in the third period of Monday's game when he fell into the end boards at high speed, triggering back spasms. Gonchar was able to get back on the ice for the power play in the third overtime period and set up the winning goal. After a day of rest, Gonchar is ready to take a regular shift.
If the Red Wings win on Wednesday night, it could be Malone's last game with the Penguins. He becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Since the Penguins also have to sign Evgeni Malkin and want to re-up Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Staal plus sign at least a few of their other pending free agents, it is thought Malone might be the odd man out.
"That hasn't crossed my mind at all," Malone said. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about the team, to make sure we get the win."
