Malkin, Crosby score; Pens edge Jackets

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Evgeni Malkin’s favorite running mate is serving a five-game NHL suspension.

No matter. The Pittsburgh Penguins star can handle things by himself when he needs to.

Malkin scored in his return from a lower-body injury, Sidney Crosby added his 16th goal, and the Penguins beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Monday night.

Pittsburgh won its sixth straight home game behind 32 saves by Marc-Andre Fleury and some vintage work by Malkin.

The Russian missed Pittsburgh’s previous two games after hurting himself in a game-day skate on Thursday.

He appeared to be just fine when he bulled his way toward the Columbus net 4:16 into the second period for his eighth goal of the season. Malkin brushed off defenseman Jack Johnson and then deftly poked a shot past the outstretched stick of goalie Curtis McElhinney.

Not bad for a guy who sometimes struggles when separated from linemate James Neal, who served the first game of the suspension he received for kneeing Boston’s Brad Marchand in the head during a loss on Saturday.

“There’s no doubt they’re good together,” Crosby said. “They’re both really good players. When they don’t have each other, they’re capable of making plays, too.”

Crosby pushed his point total to an NHL-best 43 when a centering pass from Pascal Dupuis deflected off Crosby’s leg and into the net 8:52 into the third.

“It looked like that was the only way I was going to score tonight the way it was going,” Crosby said. “I had some really pretty chances that didn’t go in ... that second one ended up being important for us.”

Matt Calvert scored with less than a minute left for Columbus, spoiling Fleury’s shutout bid. McElhinney made 28 saves but the Blue Jackets struggled again in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have won all three meetings this season by a combined score of 9-3.

In addition to Neal, the Penguins also played without defensemen Paul Martin, Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi. Orpik is sidelined indefinitely after being knocked out by Boston’s Shawn Thornton on Saturday.