Evgeni Malkin roared through the neutral zone in full flight Saturday afternoon looking to exploit the retreating Blue Jackets’ defenseman in front of him.
The Penguins center crossed the attacking blue line and tried beating 20-year-old Gabriel Carlsson to the net late in the second period of the final preseason game. The 6-foot-4 Swede, skating backward, deftly angled Malkin toward the boards, forcing him to change his course.
The superstar cut sharply to his right toward the middle of the ice, attempting to create space and locate a trailing teammate. But the rangy Carlsson mirrored his moves and just as Malkin was about to pass the puck, a back-checking Nick Foligno knocked it from his possession and onto Carlsson’s stick.
Blue Jackets defenseman Gabriel Carlsson knows there's no room for big and slow in today's NHL
