Peter Diana, Post-Gazette The Penguins' Ryan Malone acquitted himself well on a line with Mario Lemieux and Ziggy Palffy in Tuesday's win against Columbus. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Penguins Notebook: Players trying to adjust to crackdown on rules

A week ago, as the Penguins were organizing their roster and sorting through line combinations, left winger Ryan Malone found himself skating on the third line.

This week, he finds himself flanking Hall of Fame center Mario Lemieux.

"Kevin Stevens told me sometimes you're only as good as your center, and right now I have the best center in the game," Malone said.

Stevens was Lemieux's left winger during the Stanley Cup years of the early 1990s.

Coach Eddie Olczyk tried the new outfit -- Malone, Lemieux and right winger Ziggy Palffy -- for about a period Saturday against Ottawa, then started that line and stuck with it Tuesday night in a 7-2 win against Columbus at Mellon Arena.

The threesome clicked. Lemieux had a goal and three assists, Malone two goals and an assist, Palffy three assists.

Even though it was against a flu-depleted Blue Jackets lineup, the chemistry of the line was apparent.

"You think about Ryan, Mario and Ziggy together, that's a lot of ability there, with Mario drawing the attention, and a creator [in Palffy], and Ryan banging bodies and scoring goals and doing all the other things that bring it together," Olczyk said.

"It's only one night plus a period, but I was really pleased with the way they played."

That line won't produce any magic tonight in Ottawa because Malone and Lemieux won't be there. Malone is sitting out as a precaution because of a nagging wrist injury and is questionable for tomorrow night's game at Washington. Lemieux is not expected to play again until the preseason finale Sunday night at home against the Captials.

Malone's absence won't jeopardize his spot on Lemieux's line.

"Not at all," Olczyk said. "He fit very nicely there."

As a rookie in 2003-04, Malone led the team with 22 goals and was third with 43 points. As a prolific player and a local -- he's from Upper St. Clair, the son of head scout Greg Malone -- he often was thrust into a role of team spokesman and something of a leader, especially with Lemieux injured for most of that season.

With Lemieux healthy and many new veterans on the team now, Malone won't have that burden.

He can concentrate on the intricacies of playing alongside one of the best hockey players to lace up skates.

"I try to give him the puck and keep it as simple as possible," Malone said. "Or when Mario and Ziggy will drag two, maybe three guys on them at once, I just try to get open and give them an out."

Playing with someone as skilled as Lemieux isn't necessarily easy, but Lemieux believes Malone, 6 feet 4 and 216 pounds, has the talent to complement him.

"You have to be on the puck as much as you can, and Ryan can do that," Lemieux said. "He can protect the puck, get open."

If the Malone-Lemieux-Palffy line sticks, as well as the combination of rookie center Sidney Crosby with veteran wingers Mark Recchi and John LeClair, the Penguins could have two strong sets of forwards for opponents to handle.

Just don't ask Olczyk if he labels one of those the No. 1 line and one the No. 2.

"Absolutely not," the coach said.

Malone just likes the company he's keeping, no matter what's it's called.

"Obviously, I'm happy where I'm at," he said.

Asked if he expected Malone to remain on his line for the start of the regular season, Lemieux said, "Yeah ... I think so."

Then he smiled. It was the kind of smile that let you know he just might have some influence on that decision.