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Malkin, Penguins hope to avoid third straight loss

Feb 17, 2008 - 3:18 PM Pittsburgh (32-21-5) at Buffalo (28-22-8) 6:00 pm EST

BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are starting to miss Sidney Crosby.

Evgeni Malkin looks to extend his seven-game points streak and help the Penguins avoid a third consecutive defeat when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday evening.

The 21-year-old Malkin was starting to make Pittsburgh fans forget about the injured Crosby, notching four goals and 15 points over the club's 4-0-1 stretch. The Penguins, however, have lost their last two games despite Malkin scoring a goal in each of those contests.

Malkin's second-period tally gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 edge Thursday, but the Carolina Hurricanes rallied for three unanswered goals.

With a victory, the Penguins would move back into a first-place tie with the New Jersey Devils in the Atlantic Division.

Ryan Miller was 8-0-1 in his previous nine decisions before surrendering four goals in just under 12 1/2 minutes and getting pulled in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers.

Miller had stopped 60 of the previous 61 shots he faced before Saturday's setback - including a 35-save shutout over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday.

Buffalo needs a win to pull within the top eight spots in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Sabres are currently tied with the Boston Bruins for the eighth position, but the Bruins hold the tiebreaker.