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Rookies Staal, Malkin lead Penguins in comeback win

Feb 7, 2007 - 5:12 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The league-leading Nashville Predators became the latest team to get a taste of the young and improving Pittsburgh Penguins.

Rookies Jordan Staal and Evgeni Malkin scored second-period goals as the Pittsburgh Penguins overcame an early deficit and posted a 4-1 victory over the league-leading Nashville Predators.

Mark Recchi scored his 502nd career goal for the Penguins, who won their sixth straight home game and improved to 9-0-2 in the last 11 games.

"I think we're pretty happy (beating the best team in the NHL), but I don't think we doubted ourselves and I don't think we surprised ourselves," Pittsburgh star center Sidney Crosby said. "We're happy with it but we didn't go in thinking we were going to lose, we came in with the right attitude and it was nice to get the win.

"I don't think you can judge one game. We've been playing well lately, we've been on a roll here. So we have to keep doing things the way we've been doing them and we have to realize that it's everybody that's contributing, it's not just one or two guys. It's from the goalie on out every night and that's the way we need to play in order to be successful."

After the Predators' Scott Nichol opened the scoring with 2:07 left in the first period with his seventh of the season, Staal rifled in a slap shot from the right circle off a nifty pass from Crosby 5:46 into the second.

At 8:05 of the period, Malkin took a cross-ice feed on the power play from Recchi just right of the crease and beat goaltender Chris Mason for his league rookie-leading 26th goal of the season.

"I'd hate to play them two years from now," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "They're building something very special in Pittsburgh and the city should be pretty excited."

"They're filling their team with the stars of the league and they're surrounding them with a lot of workhorses and leadership with Recchi," the Predators' Jason Arnott said. "So there's no surprise (they beat us). They're a good, fast-skating team and we just beat ourselves taking a lot of penalties early and getting behind the eight-ball. It's a learning experience for us and we'll just have to battle back."

Malkin's goal was Pittsburgh's lone tally with the extra skater in seven attempts. Nashville was 0-for-4 on the power play.

Recchi scored unassisted 3:10 into the final stanza when he carried the puck down the right side, went to the forehand and fired a laser that found the far side of the net.

"It helps against a team like that that has three lines that can score at any time," Recchi said. "I think it's always important when you can get yourself a couple-goal cushion."

Jarkko Ruutu added an empty-netter with 1:24 left.

"After the first period I though we were pretty solid," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "We know when we are going to have success and they deserve a lot of credit because they work hard and they stick to the plan. And when there is a breakdown, (goaltender) Marc-Andre (Fleury) is really, really solid. He gives us a chance to win."

Fleury stopped 24 shots for Pittsburgh, which last lost in regulation here on December 27 against Atlanta.

"The guys played a great defensive game tonight," Fleury said. "We gave up the first goal, but then after that they didn't have too much."