NHL lockout refugee Evgeni Malkin on Saturday brushed off his failure to score in his first two games since moving to the Russia-based KHL with his old team Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Malkin, last season’s NHL MVP, has two assists in his first two games for Metallurg, both defeats, but has yet to score from 10 total shots.
“I’m personally looking forward to scoring my first goal in the KHL,” he said.
“It’s not worth panicking. I haven’t got into my good form yet. The goals will come, the main thing is not to get worried.”
Malkin is “70 percent ready,” he added.
The combative style of the KHL appealed to Malkin, he said.
“The matches already remind you of the playoffs, but the championship’s only just started. Everyone’s fighting to the end. Very interesting hockey.”
Malkin played for Metallurg for three seasons in the old Russian Super League between 2003 and 2006 before moving to the NHL with the Penguins in a drawn-out and controversial transfer saga that ended in a legal battle.
In 427 NHL games, he has racked up 527 points, with 208 goals and 319 assists, and won the 2009 Stanley Cup.
