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Malkin, Penguins hold off Kings

Feb 9, 2008 - 9:32 PM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Evgeni Malkin is proving he doesn't need to play second fiddle to anyone.

Malkin had two goals and an assist Saturday afternoon to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

A first-time All-Star this season, Malkin has 17 points in nine games since superstar center Sidney Crosby went down with an injured ankle.

"Now that Geno (Malkin) is under the microscope, I think everyone is seeing how talented he is," linemate Ryan Malone said. "He's right up there with all the best players in the league and he's just proving that now.

"I mean, we all knew that before. But now I think everyone else is realizing that as well."

Malone had a goal and an assist, backup goaltender Dany Sabourin stopped 26 shots and Jordan Staal also scored for the Penguins, who improved to 5-2-2 without Crosby, the reigning Hart Trophy winner.

"I don't focus on the fact that Crosby's not here (and) have to do something different," Malkin said through an interpreter. "I do the same thing all the time, I just probably spend a little more time on the ice and we have more momentum right now."

Derek Armstrong and Brian Boyle scored for the Kings, who were playing their sixth game of a season-high eight-game road trip.

Malkin, whose parents were in attendance, gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with a goal 11:09 into the contest while on a two-man advantage.

Malkin, who has 11 points in his past four games, picked up a loose puck in the high slot and fired it past a screened Jason LaBarbera for his 29th goal of the season. Kris Letang set up the play by taking the puck to the net.

Malone picked up an assist on that play, and he and Malkin combined for another goal 54 seconds into the second period - with the second assist going to Petr Sykora.

"We've said a few times that (Malkin) is a true leader offensively," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "Good players have the capacity to make sure that they don't have to do it on their own.

"Petr Sykora upgraded his game, Ryan Malone played pretty well, too. That is what I like about guys like Malkin and guys like Sidney when he is here. That is their job to make sure their partners play good and help them perform well."

Malone's 17th goal of the season came on a 2-on-2 after receiving a pass from Malkin. He threw a wrist shot at the net that fortuitously deflected off Kings defenseman Brad Stuart and past LaBarbera.

Malkin picked up his second power-play goal of the afternoon 11:41 into the second session when he one-timed a pass from Ryan Whitney while standing in the right faceoff circle to make it 3-0.

"I thought by far Evgeni Malkin was the best player on the ice," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "We didn't have anybody to answer the challenge on our side. He was the difference-maker tonight."

Moments after Sabourin made one of his best saves of the game - a pad stop on Raitis Ivanans' shot from the slot - Pittsburgh took a commanding 4-0 lead when Staal followed up consecutive shots by Jeff Taffe and Erik Christensen at 19:57 of the second.

It was Staal's third goal in his past six games.

Armstrong got Los Angeles on the board 1:54 into the third with a goal assisted by Mike Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov, who has 25 points in his past 21 games.

"We didn't play as well as we could the first two periods, for sure," Armstrong said. "The work ethic wasn't there the first two periods. A team like ours, we've got to keep the work ethic high."

Sabourin, who is in danger of being waived when Marc-Andre Fleury returns to the lineup after a two-month absence with an injured ankle, has made only three starts since December 21 but has allowed a total of only one goal in two of them.

Boyle scored with 1:32 remaining and LaBarbera made 32 saves for Los Angeles, which fell to 3-2-1 on its road trip.