Malkin flourishes with Kessel in Game 1: 'He's an amazing player'

Evgeni Malkin's return to the Pittsburgh Penguins' lineup was a triumphant one.

Geno recorded two assists Wednesday in his first game since March 15, helping his club to a 3-1 win and 1-0 series lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The main beneficiary of Malkin's addition to an already terrifying offense was Phil Kessel, who picked up two points playing wing on No. 71's line.

After the win, Malkin praised his linemate.

"It's fun," Malkin said of playing with Kessel, according to Bill West of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He's an amazing player, he's actually like a playoff guy. He wants to win every game. He wants to score every game. He wants to play hard every game."

During Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup run in 2016, Kessel turned in a Conn Smythe-worthy postseason on the right wing of the "HBK" line, featuring Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino.

Kessel and Malkin, though, both finished in the top 20 in NHL scoring in the regular season, and the possibility that they'll develop more playoff chemistry should be daunting for opponents.