Evgeni Malkin has accomplished a lot in his young career: a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), Art Ross (NHL scoring title), Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), four-time NHL All-Star and was a back-to-back finalist for Hart Trophy (league MVP) and Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player as voted by peers).Now consider this:Malkin’s teammates and coaches believe that this is, without a doubt, the best hockey they’ve ever seen from Evgeni Malkin during the regular season. And perhaps ever.He’s absolutely dominating the league right now and has imposed his iron will on each of the last six teams Pittsburgh has faced, helping the Penguins earn wins in each of those games. He’s vaulted to the top of the NHL scoring race and has put himself at the forefront of MVP talks.Here’s a look at some of the numbers Malkin, 25, has accumulated as of late:

196

The number of shots Malkin has fired this season, which ranks second in the NHL behind only linemate James Neal (204).

58

Malkin’s point total through 41 games, which leads the NHL. He’s three points ahead of Philadelphia's Claude Giroux and has a six-point margin between him and the players tied for third (Steven Stamkos, Marian Hossa and Joffrey Lupul). With the exception of Giroux (43 games played), the eight other players in the top 10 have all played six or more games than Malkin.

47

The number of goals Malkin is projected to score this season, which would tie his career high he set in 2007-08.

34

Number of points (17G-17A) recorded by Malkin over the last 20 games since Sidney Crosby was sidelined on Dec. 5, which is seven more than second-place Pavel Datsyuk and John Tavares (27). Malkin also has a league-best 17 goals during that span, one more than Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos.

27.3

Malkin’s shooting percentage during his goals streak (9-for-33).

26

Malkin’s total number of goals this season, which ties for third in the league with linemate James Neal

21:15

Malkin’s average ice time through 41 games, which leads all Pittsburgh forwards.

17

The number of faceoffs Malkin won on Jan. 7 vs. New Jersey, a new career high for the Penguins center. It eclipsed his previous personal best of 16 set on Dec. 20 vs. Chicago – which had topped his previous career high of 15 set Nov. 26, 2006 vs. NY Rangers.

12

Malkin’s plus-minus rating, which leads the Penguins. During the Penguins’ six-game winning streak, Malkin is a plus-11.

9

The number of points Malkin has tallied in the third period (out of 13 total) during the Penguins’ six-game winning streak.

7

The number of game-winning goals Malkin has scored this season. The franchise record is 12, set by Jaromir Jagr in 1995-96.Malkin has 34 for his career, which ranks fourth in franchise history.

6

The number of consecutive games Malkin has recorded at least one goal in. It’s the NHL’s longest active streak and ties for the longest stretch in the league this season. It also equals the longest goal-scoring streak of his career, which he established Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 2006 – the first six games of his NHL career.This is also the number of overtime goals Malkin has for his career, which moves him into third place on the all-time list ahead of Sidney Crosby (5) and behind Jaromir Jagr (9) and Mario Lemieux (11).

2

The number of hat tricks Malkin has recorded this season, one coming Dec. 17 vs. Buffalo and the other Jan. 15 at Tampa Bay. He and Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos are the only two players in the NHL with multiple hat tricks this season.

1.41

Malkin’s points-per-game average through 41 games, which leads the NHL. The next-closest player is Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux with 1.27. It’s higher than the 1.38 average Malkin posted during his 2009 Art Ross Trophy season. And since the NHL returned from the lockout in 2005-06, the league leader in points per game has won the Hart Trophy four times and finished runner-up once.

1

On Jan. 15 vs. Tampa Bay, Malkin became the first player in Penguins history to record a natural hat trick with two unassisted goals. He maintains his spot in Penguins history as the only player to complete an entire natural hat trick in the third period (he's done it twice now, the last one occurring Nov. 26, 2008 at NY Islanders). Malkin joins Mario Lemieux as the only Penguin with 2 natural hat tricks on the road. SOURCE: BOB GROVE