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Malkin looks to keep rolling

Feb 19, 2008 - 1:48 PM Florida (27-28-6) at Pittsburgh (33-21-5) 7:30 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - Evgeni Malkin tries to extend his five-game goal streak and when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.

The reigning Calder Trophy winner, Malkin has seven tallies and 19 points over his previous eight contests. The 21-year-old Russian, holding down the proverbial fort while Captain Sydney Crosby nurses a high-ankle spain, has 34 goals and 77 points this season.

Malkin scored a goal and set up another and Ty Conklin made 36 saves in Sunday's 4-1 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres.

Crosby, who won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies last season, has missed the last 13 contests and is expected to be out until the end of the month. The Penguins, however, have posted a 7-4-2 record without their superstar center.

The Panthers, who have lost both previous meetings with the Penguins this season, are coming off a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

Nathan Horton scored a pair of goals to give Florida a 4-2 edge early in the third period, but Carolina responded with three unanswered goals in the final session to beat the Panthers for the 12th straight time.

Horton has 20 tallies and 49 points with a team-best plus-12 rating this season.