Evgeni Malkin is totally awesome! Well, duh. The 21 year-old Russian Penguin superstar took apart the Flyers today scoring twice and setting up a couple of other goals in a 7-1 home blowout seen on NBC.

We’ll bet network execs just loved watching Malkin and Co. destroy Philly and probably whatever ratings they were hoping for.

Aside from that though, this was a brutal loss for the Flyers as they’re just one point now separates them from the ninth seeded Sabres. It also came on the heels of a very costly OT defeat to seventh place Boston yesterday in which the Bruins tied the game up on Andrew Ference’s blast with 26.4 to go and Tim Thomas pulled. The B’s took the game on Aaron Ward’s winner.

Philly looked like they were getting their act together a week prior but now suddenly are winless in three (0-1-2) including that third period collapse in a stunning 4-3 OT defeat at Toronto. Their next three crucial games all are at home starting Tuesday against Ilya Kovalchuk and the Thrashers with visits from the division rival Rangers and Islanders.

The Flyers and Rangers will meet twice in five days starting this upcoming Friday in what very well could decide which team makes the playoff cut.

Malkin’s four point day included No’s 40 and 41 in the goal department along with his 55th and 56th helpers on a couple of goals off the hot stick of former Devil Petr Sykora. His 25 markers and 58 points are the most since 2002-03 when he got 34 goals and 59 points with the Stanley Cup runner-up Ducks.

Guess that’s what playing alongside an unbelievable player can do for your career. On the season, Malkin now has 97 points (41-56-97) trailing only Russian comrade Alexander Ovechkin (57-42-99) for the NHL scoring lead.  

You can pretty much bet that one of the Russians will become the first Hart winner from their country since then Detroit Red Wing Sergei Fedorov took home plenty of hardware including a Selke and Pearson back in 1993-94. It was one of the great seasons as he totaled 56 goals, 64 assists, 120 points along with a gaudy plus-48 rating.

Sometimes, we forget just how special Fedorov was. What a great player. He might not have the scoring touch anymore but the likeable 38 year-old veteran pivot’s defensive awareness is still there as he tries to get Ovechkin and the Caps back in the postseason. Wouldn’t it be nice to see No.91 back playing some meaningful hockey this Spring?

The win for the Pens was an important one as they cut the conference/Atlantic-leading Devils’ lead to just one point. It looks like a two horse race for the division with the Rangers apparently getting a head start on St. Patty’s Day in Southern Florida this weekend.

The Habs are also a point back thanks to their 3-0 home shutout of the Islanders last night in which little used backup Jaroslav Halak stopped all 30 shots. Maybe the Isles heard me because former top pick Kyle Okposo will make his NHL debut this Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum against Toronto. About time!

The fifth place Sens are in action now visiting Southeast leader Carolina. A win would also give them 89 points as well- one fewer than the Devs.

Talk about a wild race at the top. It will only get more interesting down the stretch.