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Malkin, Penguins aim for fourth straight win

Mar 3, 2009 - 3:00 PM Pittsburgh (32-26-6) at Tampa Bay (21-30-12), 7:30 pm EST

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have thrived without their captain in the lineup - thanks to All-Star Evgeni Malkin.

Sidney Crosby may return to the lineup Tuesday for the Penguins, who will seek their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Crosby has missed the last three games with a groin injury, but Malkin has propelled Pittsburgh to its longest winning streak since November. The 22-year-old Russian, who leads the NHL with 92 points this season, is on an eight-game scoring streak.

Malkin recorded a power-play goal and two assists in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. Jordan Staal, defenseman Kris Letang and Miroslav Satan also scored for Pittsburgh, which has climbed to eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

"We're playing right now without Sid - an outstanding player - and eventually we will get him back and add to how we're playing," Penguins interim coach Dan Bylsma said. "We still need to get better and better going down the stretch, play 60 minutes and play more consistently."

Captain Vincent Lecavalier recorded two goals and set up another and Mark Recchi notched five assists as the Lightning skated to a wild 8-6 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Martin St. Louis had a pair of goals - including an empty-netter - and an assist and rookie Steven Stamkos also tallied and had an assist for Tampa Bay, which scored three times on the power play to snap a seven-game road losing streak (0-6-1).