If Malkin’s suspect play in the first two games of the second round was an isolated incident, it would be easy to chalk it up to a couple off nights. However, combined with his lacklustre performance in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and you have to wonder if the Penguins have a case of “Jumbo Gino” on their hands.

Here’s hoping that Malkin breaks out in a big way and is able to show Ovechkin and Crosby that another superstar came to play in this series, too.

One loss to one of these also-rans should not set off alarm bells, but two in a row is not indicative of a team about to embark on a Stanley Cup run. Follow up these two losses to a loss to the defending champs, the Anaheim Ducks, and one has to assume Ken Holland is thinking about potential improvements to his roster.

After watching his forwards get pushed off the puck on the forecheck by a Leafs defense that is average on their best days, maybe Ken Holland was thinking a big forward who is hard to knock off the puck is what the trade deadline ordered.

Then, after Mats Sundin scored the game-tying goal to force his team into overtime, Holland might’ve been considering going the arts and crafts route and holding a sign from the press box reading “Waive it Mats!” One has got to think that the Detroit Red Wings line-up would be pushed over the edge with the addition of a dominant and experienced forward such as Sundin.

Also, Ken Holland has a large group of young defense prospects that may interest the Leafs, such as 2007 first-rounder Brendan Smith, and 2005 first-rounder Jakub Kindl. Throw in a young forward like Jiri Hudler, and another first-round draft pick and maybe there is a possible deal.

This is all just a little healthy, pre-deadline speculation.

However, this much can be assumed to be true: if the team running away with the regular season crown is in need of some fine-tuning, you can expect it to be a very busy couple weeks leading up to the Febuary 26th deadline.

Front-runners in the Forsberg sweepstakes now appear to be Anaheim, Vancouver, Philly, and Colorado.

Here’s some purely speculative reasons for why Forsberg chose to pass on the six teams:

Nashville: Forsberg’s agent, Don Baizley, advises his client against returning to the city of foot-stomping bluegrass to avoid re-injuring the infamous feet.

Detroit: Decides after watching the Patriots lose on Sunday that he had better avoid the favourite if he wants to win another Championship.

Dallas: Southern Hospitality just doesn’t have the same appeal in Scandinavia.

Calgary: Afraid Cujo might’ve already used up the “You thought I was already collecting my NHLPA pension” jokes.

San Jose: Forsberg, like Shark management and fans, doubts San Jose’s chances of winning it all with Patrick Marleau as captain.

Pittsburgh: Foppa self-conscious of greying goatee in front of the peach fuzz Pens.