Crosby extends streak in victory

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Evgeni Malkin tied a career high with five points, Sidney Crosby extended his scoring streak to 21 games with a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 6-1 on Monday night.

Kris Letang had a goal and an assist and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for Pittsburgh, which won for the first time in three games since having a 12-game winning streak snapped.

Malkin, who had three goals in two games since returning from missing four contests due to a knee injury, had two goals and three assists Monday.

Crosby’s point streak is the longest in the NHL this season and one short of the longest since the 2004-05 lockout.

Dany Heatley scored in 22 consecutive games early in the 2005-06 season. Only Mario Lemieux (46 games in 1989-90 and 28 games in 1986) has had a longer streak for the Penguins.

Malkin’s five points matched the most by any player in the NHL this season, done six times previously. Malkin also had five-point games March 17, 2009, against Atlanta and January 20, 2007, versus Toronto.

Playing without starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (upper-body injury) for the third straight game, Phoenix fell to 1-2-1 during an East Coast tour of Atlantic Division teams. The Coyotes have won only four of their past 11 since having a seven-game winning streak snapped, falling into last place in the Pacific Division.

Wojtek Wolski scored for the second consecutive game for Phoenix.

Fleury improved to 8-0-1 in his past nine home games. He was tested extensively in the first period, when he made 16 saves — some of them highlight-worthy — and was denied a shutout only by a shot that deflected first off a thigh and then off Fleury’s helmet.

Eight minutes into the third, Derek Morris’ shot from point struck Wolski in the right leg while he stood in the crease to Fleury’s left. The puck deflected up, nipping Fleury’s helmet, and back into the net.