Flyers snap Penguins' winning streak
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Penguins captain Sidney Crosby works the puck against Flyers forward Jeff Carter as goaltender Brian Boucher looks on in the first period of an Tuesday's game at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
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PHILADELPHIA -- Evgeni Malkin's comeback game was, in a lot of ways, a resounding success.
He scored both of his team's goals.
Accounted for eight of its 23 shots.
Stepped into an opening on the No. 1 line, and didn't look the least bit out of place.
Trouble is, he also took an ill-considered penalty that led to the deciding goal in the Penguins' 3-2 loss to Philadelphia Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.
Not quite an other-than-that-how-did-you-like-the-play-Mrs. Lincoln moment, to be sure, but not all that far from it, either.
The defeat snapped the Penguins' 12-game winning streak, which had matched the eighth-longest in NHL history, as well as a run of seven consecutive victories on the road, which had tied a franchise record.
Game: New York Rangers at Penguins, 7:08 p.m. today, Consol Energy Center.
TV, radio, Internet: FSN Pittsburgh, WXDX-FM (105.9), www.penguins.nhl.com.
Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins. Henrik Lundqvist for Rangers.
Penguins: Are 7-0 at home since 3-2 overtime loss to Rangers there Nov. 15. ... C Max Talbot does not have point in past six games at Consol Energy Center. ... Are 5-0 in second game when playing on consecutive days.
Rangers: Have gone 11-5 on road. ... C Chris Drury is scheduled to play after missing 31 games with broken finger. ... Have scored first in 21 of 32 games.
Of note: Rangers are only 6-8 when outshooting opponents, but 12-3-1 when being outshot.
It also allowed the Flyers to hurdle the Penguins and move into first place in the overall standings.
Philadelphia couldn't prevent Penguins center Sidney Crosby from extending his scoring streak to 19 games, matching the longest of his NHL career, however, as he assisted on both of Malkin's goals.
Malkin had missed the previous four games because of a knee injury, but stepped into a spot on Crosby's line when Chris Kunitz was unable to play because of an undisclosed injury.
He worked on Crosby's right side, while Pascal Dupuis and Tyler Kennedy moved into Kunitz's usual spot on the left.
Coach Dan Bylsma said Kunitz is "probably not likely" to be in the lineup when the Penguins, winners of seven in a row at home, face the New York Rangers at 7:08 tonight at Consol Energy Center, but did not completely rule him out of the game.
Malkin, conversely, seems like a pretty good bet to play against the Rangers.
He logged 21 minutes, 29 seconds of ice time Tuesday night and showed no signs of having trouble with his knee.
First Published December 15, 2010 12:00 am
