Evgeni Malkin: 'I’m not happy with my game right now'

Evgeni Malkin knows he needs to step things up.

Pointless in his past eight games, including the first three of an opening-round series against the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar admitted to being less than pleased with how he's been playing.

"I’m not happy with my game right now, but I’m focused on the next game," Malkin said Tuesday.

Malkin, who missed about a week of action early in April with an undisclosed injury, ranked seventh among all players with 1.01 points per game in the regular season, scoring 28 goals and adding 42 assists in 69 contests.

Head coach Mike Johnston believes it's only a matter of time before Malkin - who recorded six goals and eight assists in 13 playoff games last year - begins to produce once again.

Key to that breakout will be additional shots on goal, as Malkin has tallied only four through three games against New York, and none in over 20 minutes of ice time in Game 3.

Down 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Wednesday, the Penguins will need Malkin to be at his best to even up the series.