Crosby, Fleury guide Penguins

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The reeling Chicago Blackhawks took another hard hit. The Pittsburgh Penguins appear to be coming together at just the right time.

Sidney Crosby scored two goals in the final five minutes, helping the Penguins to a 4-1 victory over the injury-riddled Blackhawks on Sunday night.

“I thought this was one of our most physical games of the year,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “We saw it from the beginning of the game until the end.”

The biggest hit came in the second period.

Already playing without Patrick Kane, the Blackhawks lost captain Jonathan Toews to an upper-body injury when he was drilled by Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik.

James Neal and Lee Stempniak also scored for the Penguins, who won their second straight and snapped a three-game home losing streak.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 25 saves in his 36th victory of the season.

The injury to Toews galvanized the Blackhawks, who dominated play in the third period. But Fleury held up just fine.

Crosby capped a 2-on-1 rush for Pittsburgh at 15:09 of the third, sending a wrist shot over the shoulder of Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford. He added an empty-netter with 1:16 left for his 36th goal and league-leading 99th point of the season.

“Obviously, they were coming and they put a lot of pressure on us,” Crosby said. “They started to take a few more risks and we were able to capitalize.”

Sheldon Brookbank scored for the Blackhawks, who have lost three straight in regulation for the first time since February 2012.

The Penguins and Blackhawks started the month at a snowy Soldier Field, part of the NHL Stadium Series. Chicago cruised to a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh on March 1 in the beginning of a rough month for each team.

“We remember that snowy night in Chicago,” Bylsma said.

“They took it to us pretty good. We wanted to respond in this game and I think we did.”

The Blackhawks and Penguins began the day with identical near-.500 March records and one win in each of their last four games.

Injuries to top forwards have played a role; Chicago played its sixth in a row without Kane, while former NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin missed his fourth straight for Pittsburgh.

Both are expected to return for the postseason.