Malkin and Carter were very good in Malkin's first game back. I hardly saw them together after that except at random. Kapanen has had months with Malkin with almost nothing to show. Let's try something different.
Malkin-Carter-Kapanen was the line combo in Malkin's first game back against Anaheim. They scored a goal and allowed a goal 5-on-5. They were together again the next night against LAK and gave up two goals. They were together again the following night against San Jose and were out-chanced 8-0 before being split up.
That's three games together.
Carter and Malkin were reunited on February 17 against Toronto, this time with Danton Heinen on the wing. They scored a goal and were dominant in puck possession. They stayed together the next game against Carolina and gave up a goal while being even in possession. They started the next game together against the Devils and gave up a goal before being broken up in a 6-1 loss.
That's three more games together.
Six games, with very little evidence of it actually working.