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Gonchar, Malkin help Penguins end slide

Dec 30, 2006 - 7:39 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Sergei Gonchar did their part to help the Pittsburgh Penguins halt their losing streak.

Malkin and Gonchar each had a goal and an assist and Sidney Crosby set up three tallies as the Penguins stopped their five-game skid with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Erik Christensen and rookie Jordan Staal also scored for the Penguins, who were outscored, 21-9, during their slide.

"We played a real solid game," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. ,"In the second period, the Leafs put a lot of pressure on us and we didn't manage that pressure well, but Marc-Andre (Fleury) made some key saves to make sure there was no damage. He was solid and we did regroup, and we were really solid in the third period."

"We played some pretty darn good hockey, there was good excitement," Toronto coach Paul Maurice said. "We just can't stay out of the penalty box. They're a skilled team, that's the bottom line."

Crosby raised his league-leading points total to 58 and Fleury made 30 saves for Pittsburgh.

"Especially after the skid we've kind of been in, we needed a big win, and it was a hard one," Crosby said. "It was a tough one. I think it was well-deserved. We're young, but it's games like this when we get confidence and experience."

"I wasn't real happy with my last couple games, so I just wanted to relax and start over again," Fleury said. "I thought the guys were ready. I thought we had good practices. Everyone was ready to play tonight."

Captain Mats Sundin scored the lone goal and former Penguin Jean-Sebastien Aubin stopped 26 shots for the Maple Leafs, who had their seven-game winning streak at Pittsburgh snapped in losing for the fourth time in their last five overall.

Toronto slipped to 1-5-1 in its last seven road games and has been outscored, 25-11, during that stretch.

"I thought we were the better team the first two periods," Sundin said. "We got into some trouble there in the third. They got a goal, and that gave them momentum. We all have to be better, including myself. The only way to get out of this is by working hard."

Pittsburgh goes for its second straight win when its hosts the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

"The last couple games were not so good, but during tough times, it's always good to get a win here at the end of the year," Fleury said. "And hopefully, we can start the new year the same way."