Crosby Out, Malkin Leads Again

Sidney Crosby missed his third game in a row and Evgeni Malkin took over for the Pittsburgh Penguins, just like last year.

Malkin scored a goal and assisted on two others as Pittsburgh blew by the Dallas Stars, 4-1, and climbed back into the playoff picture.

Malkin now has 29 goals and 63 assists for 92 points, ten more than Alexander Ovechkin, and 13 more than Crosby, to lead the NHL. Malkin scored on a power play at 1:36 of overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Crosby missed his third consecutive game with a nagging groin injury. He was hurt in a 5-2 loss at Washington on Sunday, a game in which he feuded with Ovechkin.

Dallas Stars forward Steve Ott missed the game as he has been suspended without pay, pending a hearing, for receiving a match penalty for intent to injure at the end of the Stars game against Anaheim. Ott had an altercation with Travis Moen following the final buzzer.

Jordan Staal, Miroslav Satan and Kris Letang scored for the Penguins, winners of three straight and five of their last six games. Chris Kunitz recorded an assist, giving him three points in two games since coming over to the Penguins in a trade with Anaheim earlier in the week.

Loui Eriksson got the only goal for the Stars, who have lost five consecutive games.
Pittsburgh moved into eighth with 70 points after being on the outside of the playoff line the past few weeks.

The Penguins are in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 17 games remaining.

The Florida Panthers are now tied for sixth with the New York Rangers at 72 points.

The Penguins continue their road trip Tuesday with a game at Tampa.