Pens knock off Florida, 4-3, on Malkin’s SO goal

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored Pittsburgh’s first goal and then decided the shootout for the Penguins, who rallied from two goals down in the third period and beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 Tuesday night for their seventh consecutive victory.

The winning streak is the Penguins’ longest since they won eight in a row from Dec. 23, 2007, through Jan. 10, 2008.

Kris Letang and Malkin each got the puck past Tomas Vokoun as the Penguins won their second shootout in three days, following a 4-3 decision Sunday in Washington.

Sidney Crosby scored the tying goal and assisted on NHL scoring leader Malkin’s 30th during Pittsburgh’s ninth win in 11 home games.

The Penguins, with 78 points, moved one ahead of Florida and into sixth place in the crowded Eastern Conference playoff race after the two began the night tied for seventh.

Florida’s Richard Zednik and Stephen Weiss each failed against goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the shootout, allowing Malkin to decide it. Malkin repeatedly shifted the puck on his stick as he skated down the edge of the slot, forcing Vokoun to commit by going down and allowing Malkin to slip the puck into the unguarded net.

Florida, losing to the Penguins for the second time in six days, is 3-7 in shootouts. Pittsburgh is 6-4.

Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton each had a goal and an assist as the Panthers scored three goals in the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Jordan Staal and Crosby scored three minutes apart early in the third to tie it for Pittsburgh, which was coming off the first five-game road sweep in franchise history.

Staal made it 3-2 with 2:20 gone in the third, batting in a rebound of Matt Cooke’s shot from the slot. Crosby tied it with his 26th, finishing off a give-and-go sequence with new linemates Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz.

Guerin, who scored his 800th career point last week shortly after being traded to Pittsburgh, was credited with his 400th assist.