Malkin takes his showcase on the road

Since the day he arrived in this country in 2006, spirited out of Europe while hockey authorities in North America and his native Russia disputed his contractual rights, Evgeni Malkin has fearlessly confronted every challenge he faced.

He spent five days hidden in a Helsinki apartment, forbidden to contact his family, before he left for Los Angeles and went on to his new home in Pittsburgh, accepting temporary hardships as the cost of making it to the NHL.

Once he signed with the Penguins, he had to learn a new language and new style of play. He was a quick learner. Nicknamed “Geno” in the way that every hockey player gets an easy-to-shout moniker, Malkin won rookie-of-the-year honors in 2006-07 for a 33-goal, 85-point performance and improved to 106 points last season. He was invisible a year ago in his first Stanley Cup finals against Detroit, ill and tired and unfamiliar with the intensity required throughout the two-month journey, but even then he was gaining wisdom he’s putting to good use.

Malkin’s goal and assist Thursday led the Penguins to a series-tying 4-2 victory, turning the finals into a best-of-three set starting tonight at Joe Louis Arena. The Penguins wouldn’t be in this position without his 14 goals and postseason-high 35 points, the most since a guy named Wayne Gretzky had 40 in 24 games for the Kings in 1993.

For the Penguins to forge ahead and continue to wear down a Detroit team that appeared tired and spent in Game 4, Malkin will have to be at least as good as he has been.

Maybe even better, because he has another challenge looming before him.

The Red Wings are hoping center Pavel Datsyuk, out the last seven games because of foot injury, will return tonight. The presence of Datsyuk, a finalist for the Selke Award as the NHL’s top defensive forward, would give them a second defensively skilled forward to deploy against Malkin and Sidney Crosby, who had their way with the Red Wings in the two games at Pittsburgh.

If Datsyuk plays, he might not be up to his old workload of 20 minutes a game. Detroit Coach Mike Babcock also said Friday he’s not sure if Datsyuk will play center or the wing, where he might find more skating room.

“I don’t know the answer,” Babcock said after an optional skate at Joe Louis Arena, “and I’m being honest with you, just because until I see them play, I won’t know.”

This much is sure:

As dynamic as Malkin has been, as forceful as the 6-foot-3, 195-pound center has consistently been this spring, he will need to up the ante tonight against the Red Wings in their building.

If he can reach yet another level, he’s capable of carrying the Penguins with him. This game will be as much a test of his will as of the Red Wings’ ability to gather their remaining energy and rediscover the motivation that led them to the Cup last spring.

“You’re talking about inserting a pretty good hockey player at both ends of the rink, so it’s going to add a lot to their team if he can get in there and be effective the way we’ve seen him be effective in the past,” Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma said of Datsyuk.

“Geno has gotten seven points in this series, and most of the checking duties have been assigned to be on Crosby. So that might change if another very good centerman comes into the mix. . . .

“Certainly they’ve talked a lot about what Geno has been able to do, and how good he is. And I’m assuming that’s something they’ll certainly focus on if they have the ability to.”

Malkin wasn’t available to reporters Friday, given a day off while other Penguins handled the team’s daily media obligations. Those teammates said they have confidence in him because he’s so sure of himself, having learned the ropes and requirements during the Penguins’ six-game loss to the Red Wings in last season’s finals. Malkin scored only one goal in those finals, in the last game.

“We all know that Evgeni is a great player. But I think this series he’s healthy, he’s ready to go. He’s got a lot of energy,” defenseman Kris Letang said.

“Right now you see every game he’s ready. I think it’s just the desire and urgency in his game. You want to accomplish something.”

Fellow defenseman Hal Gill said the demands of media, practices and games were new to Malkin a year ago -- as they were to most of the Penguins.

“I think what you see now is a guy who has been there and has been through this before. And I know last year was different for me. You don’t really know what to expect coming to the finals, doing things like this,” Gill said Friday during a news conference at the team’s suburban hotel.

“I think that’s a lot to ask for him, because he gets it every day, and it can be exhausting. I think once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s a little easier to handle.”

The intrigue tonight lies in whether the Red Wings, fortified by Datsyuk’s return or simply fueled by pride and the energy of their fans, find Malkin any easier to handle than they did in the first four games.

--

helene.elliott@latimes.com