|
 Captain Sidney Crosby and Taylor Pyatt also tallied while
defenseman Matt Niskanen notched two assists to extend his point
streak to a career-high five games. Marc-Andre Fleury turned aside
23 shots as the Penguins rebounded from a 5-1 setback to Florida on
Monday to secure their 14th victory in 15 home contests.
Rene Bourque netted his first goal since Dec. 2 and Daniel Briere
notched an assist to crack the scoresheet for the first time in
seven games. Carey Price yielded five goals on 21 shots before being
relieved by Peter Budaj (10 saves) for the Canadiens, who fell to
0-4-1 in their last five trips to Consol Energy Center and 2-7-1 in
the last 10.
Pittsburgh drew first blood at 8:48 of the first period as Malkin
breezed past Montreal defenseman Andrei Markov along the right-wing
boards before his centering feed gave Jokinen an easy tap-in. Pyatt
doubled the advantage nearly eight minutes later by deflecting
Niskanen's point shot for a power-play goal.
[to top of second column] |
Bourque answered 75 seconds later, but Jokinen's one-timer
from the right faceoff circle beat Price inside the near post at
5:46 of the second period to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead.
Stationed on the left doorstep, Crosby deftly deflected
defenseman Kris Letang's shot nearly six minutes later before
Malkin once again beat Markov on a rush and slid the puck past
Price.
GAME NOTEBOOK: With the outcome no longer in doubt, tensions
boiled over late in the third period before officials intervened
as Budaj was challenging Fleury to a fight at center ice. ...
Jokinen recorded his third multi-goal performance this season.
The Finn had a hat trick in Pittsburgh's 5-2 win over Carolina
on Oct. 8 and tallied twice in the Penguins' 5-2 triumph over
the New York Rangers on Jan. 3. ... Niskanen has scored two
goals and set up five others during his point streak. ...
Canadiens LW Max Pacioretty saw his four-game point streak come
to an end. He collected two goals and two assists in the
stretch.
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