Sullivan not worried about Malkin going into Game 4

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) Evgeni Malkin has no goals in the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final and none in his past six overall.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan isn’t worried.

Hours before Game 4 of the Cup final against the San Jose Sharks with his team holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Sullivan said Malkin can be a difference maker on any shift. Sullivan said there’s ”another level” to Malkin’s game to help the Penguins win.

”I think Geno is going to be fine,” Sullivan said. ”I know he’s going to be a big part of the next few games here. He’s an elite player. When he plays the game the right way, he’s a threat out there.”

The Sharks won’t have one of their biggest threats yet again. Forward Tomas Hertl is out for the second consecutive game with an upper-body injury.