Sidney Crosby and Evgenimalkin scored goals in the third period to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Arizona Coyotes, 4-1.
With 7:24 left to play, Malkin broke the tie at 1-1. Malkin was stopped by Scott Wedgewood on a drive to his net, but he finally managed to get the puck back and scored his 11th goal of this season. Due to injuries, the Russian center has played only 27 games this season.
Crosby played in front of many Pittsburgh fans at the desert. He scored a rebound from Jake Guentzel’s shot with 3:37 remaining. The empty-net goal was added with 1:50 left.
Pittsburgh also got a goal from Kasperi Kapanen. Clayton Keller scored for Arizona.
The Penguins had a massive shots advantage and outshot the Coyotes 18-5 after a scoreless period. The Penguins won 48 shots to Arizona’s 21 against Tristan Jarry who took his 31st win of the season.
Around the second intermission, Pittsburgh’s two-man advantage was wiped out by Arizona. Barrett Hayton was penalized for hooking with 59 seconds left in the second period. With 26 seconds remaining, Keller was dismissed for tripping. The Penguins struggled to get going in the third period, particularly at the start.
Kapanen scored his 10th goal for the season at 2:09 in the second period after Jeff Carter’s pass across the slot.
Keller split the defense, scoring his 27th goal with 8:32 remaining in the second. Jarry was unable to stop the puck from trickling past Jarry. Anton Stralman was awarded an assist.
Keller’s streak of scoring has been extended to eight games, which is the longest for Arizona this season. In that time, he has scored six goals and assisted nine times. Keller was injured in the third period and had to leave the game.
SIDELINED
Penguins: F Zach Aston Reese (illness), and F Brock McGinn(upper body) were both absent from Saturday’s match.
Coyotes: D Jakob Chychrun (lower) was unable to play his third consecutive game.
ICE CHIPS
Penguins: They have won eight consecutive games against Arizona since Nov. 7, 2017. … Pittsburgh’s road record is 21-7-4, the best in the NHL.
Coyotes lead league with 38 goals in March.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Penguins: Columbus will host on Tuesday night.
Coyotes at San Jose on Sunday.
