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Ilya Samsonov can relate to the power of parental positivity now being absorbed by Evgeni Malkin.
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The Penguins forward has six goals and nine points and his suddenly playoff-positioned team has been on a roll of 5-0-1 after his parents came to visit from Magnitogorsk, Russia, at the end of March.
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The Leafs have back-to-back games to begin this week, so coach Sheldon Keefe can use Samsonov on Monday against Pittsburgh and Joseph Woll on Tuesday in New Jersey, flip the starts or even work in Martin Jones with home games on Thursday (New Jersey) and Saturday (Detroit) also awaiting. Samsonov is one victory away from 50 as a Leaf.
Pittsburgh is getting some strong netminding of its own from Alex Nedeljkovic through its hot streak, including wins in the last four games. Malkin and ex-Leaf left-winger Michael Bunting have been a good match along with right-winger Rickard Rakell with Bunting adding five goals and eight assists in 16 games since the Jake Guentzel trade with Carolina.
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