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Malkin, Crosby help Penguins top Rangers

Mar 30, 2008 - 8:12 PM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - All-Star Evgeni Malkin helped the Pittsburgh Penguins take a major step toward winning their first division title in a decade.

Malkin scored his 46th goal of the season and captain Sidney Crosby had two assists as the Penguins posted a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

Marian Hossa and Maxime Talbot also scored and Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves as Pittsburgh (46-26-7) won its third straight game and opened up a six-point advantage in the Atlantic Division.

"A year ago we were having a hard time playing these types of games," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "Now we are more mature. You can't ask for a better way to prepare yourselves for the playoffs than to play those types of games. It's nice to see how we reacted."

The Penguins also overtook the idle Montreal Canadiens (44-25-10) for the top spot in the Eastern Conference and clinched at least home-ice advantage in the conference quarterfinals. "Home-ice (advantage) is big, no matter who you play in the first round," Crosby said. "This was a pretty tight game. Lots of special teams. The penalty kill did a great job."

Pittsburgh will clinch its first division title since winning the 1997-98 Northeast Division crown if it wins again Monday in the rematch of the home-and-home series.

Brandon Dubinsky scored the lone goal for the Rangers (40-27-11), who could have moved to within four points of the Penguins but instead remained tied for sixth place in the East - three points ahead of the ninth-place Washington Capitals (40-31-8).

Malkin gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead while on a two-man advantage with 2:04 left in the first with a slap shot from the high slot. Petr Sykora was standing in front of the net and appeared to screen Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

It was the last tally until Talbot sealed the victory, stuffing in a rebound with just 47 seconds remaining in the game.

"We've been battling for first place for 30 games," Talbot said. "It makes it interesting for the fans; the fans were on fire (Sunday), they were loud. Not that we need extra motivation, but it's fun to play these (division) games and (Sunday) was a blast for everyone. Every little play can change the game, and that's playoff hockey."

Malkin left the game during the second period with a cut on his face after the skate of Dubinsky clipped him. Malkin, who ranks second in the league with 104 points, returned for the start of the final session.

"He (Dubinsky) just said it was accidental and he's sorry about that," Malkin said through an interpreter. "It's a pure accident; he didn't do it intentionally."

The Rangers took an early lead at 3:03 of the first when Dubinsky notched a power-play goal. Dubinsky was open to the left of Fleury when ex-Penguin Jaromir Jagr took a shot from inside the right point. Dubinsky pounced on the rebound and put the rebound Fleury.

"We have to come out tomorrow better prepared to work, stay out of the penalty box and our power play has to continue to get pucks to the net and at least make a difference in terms of momentum," Rangers coach Tom Renney said.

Hossa tied it 10:21 into first with his 29th goal of the season - third with Pittsburgh - on a slap shot from the left faceoff circle that went underneath the crossbar and past Lundqvist.

"We came out, we had a really good start, but penalties got us in trouble during the second half of the first period," Rangers left wing Brendan Shanahan said. "Some of the penalties were questionable, for sure, but that's just part of the game."