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Wounded Pens host lowly Isles

Feb 2, 2011 - 4:33 PM (Sports Network) - The Penguins have been finding ways to win despite playing without both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They may have to dig deeper again tonight after suffering a few more injuries in their previous game.

Pittsburgh aims for a fourth straight victory overall and 11th in a row at home over the New York Islanders as the two clubs clash Wednesday at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Penguins have been without Crosby for the past 10 games due to a concussion. Pittsburgh's center has been cleared for light exercise, but his return date is still unknown. Malkin, meanwhile, has sat out the last four games due to a sinus infection and is expected to be a game-time decision for this contest.

Already without its top two centers, Pittsburgh lost another pivot in Mark Letestu to a lower-body injury prior to last night's game at the New York Rangers, and fellow center Jordan Staal took a match penalty in the second period for punching Brandon Prust in the face during a scrum. The Penguins were still able to record their sixth victory in seven games, a 4-3 shootout triumph.

Recalled just hours before the game, Dustin Jeffrey scored in regulation and then had the lone goal of the tiebreaker in the seventh round. Michael Rupp and Chris Kunitz also scored and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves.

Pittsburgh also lost forward Aaron Asham to an upper-body injury in the second period as it pulled within three points of first-place Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division.

"We're dealing with (adversity) and dealt with it again tonight," head coach Dan Bylsma told Pittsburgh's website. "We were down 2-0 in a tough situation. Our guys battled back. ... I'm real proud of the gutsy effort we had from our guys."

Bylsma could stick with Fleury tonight as the Penguins try to extend a seven- game point streak over the Islanders. Pittsburgh is 6-0-1 versus New York in that span and hasn't lost at home to the club since Dec. 21, 2007.

Fleury posted a 29-save shutout when the Pens and Isles met at CONSOL Energy Center on Jan. 25 for a 1-0 decision and is 12-4-3 with a tie and 2.40 goals- against average versus them in his career.

That setback in Pittsburgh was part of a three-game slide that New York halted with Tuesday's 4-1 victory in Atlanta. Kyle Okposo scored his first two goals of the season and added an assist in his sixth game of the campaign.

"I think we just settled down and found our legs, and we really wanted to take it to them," said Okposo, who missed a good portion of this season due to shoulder surgery. "We're trying to come in here with a new attitude after the break and thought we played pretty well."

P.A. Parenteau registered a goal and an assist, while defenseman Travis Hamonic tallied his first career NHL goal as the Islanders won for only the third time in their last 11 overall and sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with 39 points.

Kevin Poulin turned aside 25-of-26 shots to pick up the win. He stopped 30- of-31 shots versus the Penguins last week in his first ever appearance against them.

Fellow New York goaltender Rick DiPietro is 10-8-2 with a 3.26 GAA against the Penguins.