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Crosby aims to extend point streak as Pens host Panthers

Dec 22, 2010 - 4:09 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of teams coming off lopsided wins will meet tonight in the Steel City as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Florida Panthers at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Penguins recorded a 6-1 victory over visiting Phoenix on Monday. That same night, Florida was on the other side of Pennsylvania delivering a 5-0 thrashing against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh halted a two-game slide with Monday's win and picked up its 13th victory in 15 games. Sidney Crosby scored a goal and dished out two assists to extend his career-high point streak to 21 games in the easy win.

Crosby has totaled 21 goals and 21 assists during the run and leads the NHL in goals (27) and points (57) this season. With a point tonight, Crosby can tie the NHL's longest point streak since the lockout. Dany Heatley, then of Ottawa, had a 22-game point streak during the 2005-06 season.

Evgeni Malkin had two goals and three assists for the Penguins, giving the Russian star five goals and eight points in three games since returning from a knee injury.

"He was playing unbelievable," Crosby said of Malkin. "It's really fun to see a teammate take over a game like that. When he's playing like that, I think he pushes everyone to raise their level. I was just trying to keep up with him and make sure I was there to create things when he was open."

Kris Letang added a goal and an assist, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for Pittsburgh.

The Penguins have won eight of their last nine home games and are closing a three-game residency tonight. Pittsburgh is 11-6-1 overall in its first season at CONSOL Energy Center.

Florida, meanwhile, used Tomas Vokoun's fourth shutout of the season to anchor its dominating 5-0 win in Philly. Vokoun stopped all 26 shots he faced for his second white-washing in his last five games.

"We knew the last game before the break was going to be tough for [the Flyers] at home for Christmas," said Vokoun. "I think we started well, played a patient game. Obviously, the key has been being able to put the puck in the net and take some pressure off our defense and our penalty killing. It obviously is easier to play with a lead."

Dmitry Kulikov and Evgeny Dadonov each notched a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who have won two straight and five of their last seven games. Mike Santorelli, Shawn Matthias and Bill Thomas each added a goal in the win.

Florida is just 8-10-0 as the guest this year and is playing the middle test of a three-game road trip tonight. The Panthers will complete the swing tomorrow night in Buffalo.

The Panthers dropped a 3-2 regulation decision when they hosted Pittsburgh on Nov. 22. The Penguins have taken six of the last eight games in the series and Florida has lost three straight and six of its last seven games in the Steel City. However, tonight's tilt will be the Panthers first contest at Pittsburgh's new arena.