NHL Playoffs: Evgeni Malkin gets rocked by Marc Methot

Marc Methot changed Evgeni Malkin’s life forever with one of the most beautiful hip checks you’ll ever see. 

Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators has been brutal. It’s also been incredibly exciting, with both teams trading chances throughout the game. As soon as one team grabs momentum, it seems like the other has a perfect counterattack ready. Evgeni Malkin tried to get on a breakaway but got rudely denied by Marc Methot. The end result is one of the most beautiful, violent and perfect hip checks you’ll ever see.

You’re not going to see a hip check as technically flawless as this one. Methot lowers his body and uses his leverage to stop Malkin. And this is no easy feat, as the Penguins center isn’t a tiny guy, standing at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds. Methot, by comparison, is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He needed every ounce of that 25 pound advantage on paper to deliver this beauty.

This is perfect for several reasons. First of all, Methot does this very safely. Malkin’s not in much danger to get hurt except that he hit the boards (which might have been unavoidable with any hit). Secondly, it’s not so weak that it doesn’t take the Penguins center out of the play. If you’re going to hip check someone, you better make sure they end up on the ice. Methot does that.

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Luckily, no one was hurt as a result of this beautiful hip check. Penguins fans might not have appreciated it, but you can’t please everyone. Methot has to love making that hit. However, he likely wishes it could have been done to Sidney Crosby, who slashed his finger into oblivion early this season. Entering the third period of Game 7, the two teams are tied at one goal a piece.