Evgeni Malkin shook off the rust at just the right time. Or, if you’re the Rangers, the timing couldn’t be worse.

The Russian superstar looked like himself after a few lackluster performances following his Game 2 return from an undisclosed injury to his left hand or wrist that had kept him out since March 11. He equaled a personal career-high in the postseason with four points, notching two goals and two assists, as the Penguins steamrolled the Rangers, 5-0, Thursday to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

“He’s a dynamic player — as you saw tonight,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “Geno wants to win. He’s a competitive guy. He cares about this team. And he knows he’s a big part of this team having success. He’s a self-driven guy. He wants to be on the ice. He wants the puck in the crucial situations.”

In Game 3, Malkin was benched over the final five minutes by Sullivan, who went with his best defensive forwards to ensure a one-goal lead wouldn’t be lost. Malkin had no issues with the move, and made sure Sullivan didn’t think of yanking him again.

“I just played my [game] tonight,” Malkin said. “Coach gave me so much time. I feel so much better. I know I can help this team win.”

Malkin got into the act early, picking up an assist on right wing Eric Fehr’s goal just 1:09 into the action, when defenseman Ben Lovejoy’s slap shot led to a juicy rebound, and Fehr was there to set the stage for the Penguins rout. Malkin notched his second assist just 6:02 later, when right wing Patric Hornqvist tipped in Sidney Crosby’s redirect of a Malkin shot past Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

Malkin beat Lundqvist at 4:00 of the second period with a long one-timer, set up beautifully by Crosby, the kind of whistling shot the Russian star has been known for. The arm injury wasn’t a factor then.

“Sometimes I can shoot like that,” he said.

For good measure, Malkin made it 5-0 in the third, when he scored off a deflection on the power play. However, he was just part of the problem for the Rangers.

The Penguins at their best, as they were Thursday night, looked to be in another class. Rookie goaltender Matt Murray was “the best player on the ice,” according to winger Conor Sheary, making 31 saves for his first career playoff shutout in just his second postseason appearance, and the Penguins’ power play was on point, converting on three-of-six opportunities, displaying the kind of skill and precision the Rangers lack. It is now 7-for-18 in the series.

“When those guys get on the ice together, they’re real talented guys when they play the right way,” Sullivan said. “I think all of the details of the power play that we talk about on a daily basis were evident when they were out there.”