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Malkin, Penguins get the best of Rangers' Lundqvist

Jan 20, 2012 - 4:06 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Evgeni Malkin scored twice in the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins took a 4-1 decision over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

"I think his play has been extremely good. He's played at a high level," Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma said of Malkin. "The way he stuck with it all game long, playing the right way, it's good to see him get rewarded that way."

Richard Park and Chris Kunitz also lit the lamp for Pittsburgh, while Marc- Andre Fleury stopped 30-of-31 shots in the Penguins' fourth straight win.

Carl Hagelin tallied the lone goal for the Rangers, who lost for the third time in five games.

Henrik Lundqvist allowed three goals on 35 shots to take the loss.

Park broke a 1-1 tie at the 2:23 mark of the third period when he finished off a Penguins 3-on-1 rush with a wrister from the left circle that ripped through the short side.

Less than five minutes later, Malkin grabbed a loose puck off a Rangers turnover inside New York's end of the ice and swept across the goal before lifting a backhander over the glove of Lundqvist to give Pittsburgh a little cushion.

Malkin's empty-netter with 1:40 left in regulation sealed the outcome for the Penguins.

"I don't think we've played that bad, but it's just all the little details in the end that will be the difference. We have to do everything, if not perfect, then really well in order to win games," said Lundqvist. "Every night is going to be tough to win, especially now that teams come in and expect a tough night."

Pittsburgh notched the lone goal of the opening period 3:16 into the game.

Paul Martin received a pass all alone high in the slot for a short breakaway but was denied by Lundqvist's left pad. Kunitz, though, was there to clean up the rebound with a one-timer that slipped under the crossbar.

But Hagelin sent the game into the third period tied at one with a wrister from the left circle that snuck through Fleury's legs and then trickled across the goal line at the midpoint of the second.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh has scored 16 goals over its win streak...Lundqvist fell to 22-14-5 in 41 career games against Pittsburgh...The Penguins improved to 13-10-2 on the road this season, while New York dropped to 14-5-2 as the host this year.