Moving up - 6-5-09

Evgeni Malkin production this postseason continues to amaze us. He now has the eighth-best point total in a single postseason:

Player, Team	Year	Games Played	Goals- Assists- Points
Wayne Gretzky, Oilers	1985	18	17-30-47
Mario Lemieux, Penguins	1991	23	16-28-44
Wayne Gretzky, Oilers	1988	19	12-31-43
Wayne Gretzky, Kings	1993	24	15-25-40
Wayne Gretzky, Oilers	1983	16	12-26-38
Paul Coffey, Oilers	1985	18	12-25-37
Mike Bossy, Islanders	1981	18	17-18-35
Evgeni Malkin, Penguins	2009	21	14-21-35
Wayne Gretzky, Oilers	1984	19	13-22-35
Doug Gilmour, Maple Leafs	1993	21	10-25-35

Malkin's climb up this list is even more amazing when you consider two things.

FIrst, even with the NHL's new rules adopted after the lockout to spark offense, this is still very much a defensive era when compared to the 1980s and early 1990s. Goaltenders have bigger equipment and better techniques and coaches more often than not adopt a defense-first philosophy.

Second, Malkin's linemates have predominantly been Ruslan Fedotenko and Maxime Talbot, two players, who with all due respect, aren't individuals you'll find on too many fantasy teams let alone all-star squads. Wayne Gretzky had Jari Kurri. Mario Lemieux had Mark Recchi. Mike Bossy had Bryan Trottier. Doug Gilmour had Glenn Anderson.

With at least two games left, Malkin has a chance to claim the best single postseason by anyone not named Gretzky or Lemieux. If the Stanley Cup stretches out to seven games and he really picks up the pace, he has an outside chance of joining those two players in the 40-point club.

NOTE: We just realized we doubled-up on James Mirtle. Apologies to him.

(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)