The Penguins are 3-3-1 in their season series against New Jersey, and can capture it by defeating the Devils when they meet at 7:38 p.m. tomorrow at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J.

Of course, if they do it in overtime, they and the Devils will be able to claim the season series, because both will be 4-3-1. That statistical twist is possible because the NHL offers a separate listing of overtime/shootout losses, but treats all victories equally.

There is the potential for an even stranger quirk in the Penguins' season series against the New York Islanders.

Both teams have won three of the six games to date, but all of New York's victories have come in shootouts, while the Penguins have earned two in regulation and one in overtime.

Thus, the Penguins are 3-0-3 against New York, and the Islanders are 3-2-1 against the Penguins. That means that if New York wins the final two games between the teams -- even if it does so in regulation -- both will be able to claim victory in the season series.

In the case of the Penguins, they would do so despite losing five of the eight games they played against the Islanders.

Malkin's plan

While no one with a vested interest seems ready to guarantee that Evgeni Malkin will be in the NHL next season, no one has come up with any compelling evidence that he won't, either.

And comments Malkin made while speaking with a Russian reporter shortly before the Turin Olympics in Italy -- an interview posted recently on the Russian Hockey Digest Web site -- bolster the belief that he'll be with the Penguins this fall. Witness his thoughts on:

Speaking English: "I'm starting to learn English because I understand that it's very important. I can't go to Pittsburgh without being able to communicate, but I have very little time to practice English. I'm trying, though."

Countryman Alexander Ovechkin's success in Washington: "I just hope that when I go to America myself, that I will be able to do just as well as him."

The Penguins' desire to have him here for 2006-07: "I'm also hoping for that. I have two years left on my contract with Metallurg [Magnitogorsk, his Russian Super League club], but I want to try my hand at the NHL."

Mario Lemieux's retirement: "It's unfortunate that I won't be able to play with him on the same team, but I hope that I will at least get to meet him when I come to Pittsburgh's training camp."

No rest for Brodeur

Goaltender Martin Brodeur has played in 66 of the Devils' 75 games, and probably shouldn't expect much time off between now and the end of New Jersey's playoff run.

Devils coach Lou Lamoriello, though, seems confident Brodeur's workload is not too great.

"It certainly depends on the rest-play ratio," he said. "I've always looked at it as, you could give somebody a [game] day off, but sometimes it's just as beneficial to give them a practice off, depending on the individual.

"We know his body, we know how he feels. He's very honest with us and honest with himself, and that's the most important thing. There's always a fine line."

Slap shots

The Penguins had yesterday off. Their game in New Jersey tomorrow will kick off a four-game road trip. ... The Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre can clinch the first regular-season division title in franchise history with a home-ice victory against Binghamton tomorrow night. ... Brian Gionta's game-winner in the Devils' 3-2 overtime victory at Mellon Arena Sunday was his 42nd goal of the season, four shy of the team record set by Pat Verbeek in 1987-88. Gionta has scored seven of those goals against the Penguins.