PITTSBURGH – Evgeni Malkin tied a career high with five points, Sidney Crosby extended his scoring streak to 21 games with a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 6-1 on Monday night.
Kris Letang had a goal and an assist and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for Pittsburgh, which won for the first time in three games since having a 12-game winning streak snapped.
Malkin, who had three goals in two games since returning from missing four contests due to a knee injury, had two goals and three assists Monday — all within the first 27:21 of the game.
Crosby's point streak is the longest in the NHL this season and one short of the longest since the 2004-05 lockout.
Dany Heatley scored in 22 consecutive games early in the 2005-06 season. Only Mario Lemieux (46 games in 1989-90 and 28 games in 1986) has had a longer streak for the Penguins.
Malkin's five points matched the most by any player in the NHL this season, done six times previously. Malkin also had five-point games March 17, 2009, against Atlanta and January 20, 2007, versus Toronto.
Playing without starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (upper-body injury) for the third straight game, Phoenix fell to 1-2-1 during an East Coast tour of Atlantic Division teams. The Coyotes have won only four of their past 11 since having a seven-game winning streak snapped, falling into last place in the Pacific Division.
Wojtek Wolski scored for the second consecutive game for Phoenix.
Fleury improved to 8-0-1 in his past nine home games. He was tested extensively in the first period, when he made 16 saves — some of them highlight-worthy — and was denied a shutout only by a shot that deflected first off a thigh and then off Fleury's helmet.
Eight minutes into the third, Derek Morris' shot from point struck Wolski in the right leg while he stood in the crease to Fleury's left. The puck deflected up, nipping Fleury's helmet, and back into the net.
With Pittsburgh up 1-0 in the final minute of the first, Crosby extended his scoring run with one of his most unique assists of the streak.
Crosby, among the league leaders in faceoff percentage, took advantage of the fact that Vernon Fiddler was kicked out of the right faceoff circle in the Phoenix zone for dropping his stick too early. Crosby duped the less-experienced Lauri Koprikoski, slid the puck forward, lunged and immediately fed a wide-open Malkin, who had only eight goals in 26 games before his recent tear.
Just 51 seconds into the second, Malkin again was fed by Crosby while wide open in the slot when Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle tripped behind his own net seconds into a Pittsburgh power play. Crosby picked up the loose puck and found Malkin for his 21st assist during his scoring streak.
Two minutes later, Crosby scored his 21st goal of the 21-game streak — again while on the power play. This time, Malkin set up Crosby, who walked in through the right circle and beat Jason LaBarbera with a wrist shot.
When Matt Cooke scored moments after Malkin's faceoff win later in the period, LaBarbera was chased and the rout was on.
Pittsburgh's Chris Conner added his third of the season with 1:39 to play.
NOTES: Pittsburgh was playing for the first time since last Wednesday. Not counting the All-Star break, the Penguins have only one other four-day break this season. ... For about 15 seconds during the second period, the Coyotes had a rare 6-on-3, as they were playing with a two-man advantage and then another delayed penalty allowed them to pull G Matt Climie for an extra attacker. ... Climie was making his first appearance of the season and fifth of his NHL career. It was his Coyotes debut.
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