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Crosby, Penguins look to build off recent victory

Feb 14, 2009 - 11:32 AM Pittsburgh (27-24-5) at Toronto (20-25-10), 7:00 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The scales finally tipped in the Pittsburgh Penguins' favor. Now, they must build upon their latest victory if they plan on making a playoff push.

Captain Sidney Crosby and the Penguins look to notch their fourth win in five contests when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

Though Pittsburgh took full advantage of its four-game homestand, it remains tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 59 points - five away from catching Buffalo for the eighth and final spot.

Crosby came up big in the Penguins' 2-1 shootout triumph over the Western Conference-leading San Jose Sharks on Wednesday by scoring the game-winner in the bonus format.

It was the third time this season they have won despite scoring one goal or less in regulation or overtime.

Toronto, meanwhile, has suffered through defensive lapses in losing eight of 11. Currently on a two-game skid, the Maple Leafs have yielded four goals or more in nine of those contests.

They are coming off a 6-4 setback to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, falling to 3-3-2 since the All-Star break.

In that contest, Lee Stempniak netted a pair of goals, Niklas Hagman recorded a tally and an assist and rookie Nikolai Kulemin also scored for Toronto, which has also dropped four of five.