Evgeni Malkin scores in return as Penguins top Devils
Evgeni Malkin scored a power-play goal in his return to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who beat the visiting New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Thursday to extend their winning streak to a season-high six games.
After missing the last 15 games because of an upper-body injury, the 39-year-old Malkin got his ninth goal of the season on a 5-on-3 opportunity in the final minute of the second period.
Erik Karlsson scored a goal for the first time since Dec. 16 and posted his 699th career assist on Malkin's goal. Connor Dewar also added a goal and an assist. Blake Lizotte tallied his fifth goal of the season.
Richard Rakell and Sidney Crosby both assisted on a pair of goals.
Stuart Skinner stopped 28 shots to record his third straight win.
Luke Hughes' third-period score ended a Devils' goal drought of more than 155 minutes. Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes got the assists on the power-play goal.
Jake Allen kept the Devils in the contest by making 25 saves, but it was not enough as New Jersey fell for a third straight game and seventh time in their last nine.
Karlsson put the Penguins ahead in the first period. The defenseman notched his fourth goal of the season from the left faceoff circle, launching the puck over Allen's left shoulder with 13:21 remaining.
Dewar made it 2-0 with 14:37 left in the second. His eighth came on a breakaway chance just seconds after exiting the penalty box. Rakell got the primary assist, threading a pass from deep in the Penguins zone to the red line where the forward lingered behind Simon Nemec.
Malkin set up a 98-second two-man advantage, as Connor Brown was sent off for tripping him with 2:22 left in the second.
Crosby got his second assist on his longtime teammate's goal to extend his points streak to a season-high eight games. With the two assists, he now has 1,087 in his career and passed Wayne Gretzky (1,086 with Edmonton) for the second-most helpers for one franchise. Ray Bourque posted 1,111 with Boston.
Luke Hughes cut the deficit to 3-1 with his fifth goal of the season with 17:05 to go, but a Devils giveaway in their zone led to Lizotte getting that back with 6:34 left.