Penguins at Blue Jackets
The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their quest for first place in the Metropolitan Division on Sunday as they seek a fifth consecutive victory when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh posted its 11th straight home win on Saturday, a 5-3 triumph over Toronto that extended its point streak to six games (5-0-1) and moved it within one point of division-leading Washington.
Evgeni Malkin has been on fire for the Penguins, collecting 12 goals and eight assists over his last 10 games while being kept off the scoresheet just once in that span. The 31-year-old Russian, who is a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner, is among the league scoring leaders and tops Pittsburgh with 69 points. Columbus is coming off a 2-1 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Friday and sits one point behind the New York Islanders for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Cam Atkinson scored with 3:28 remaining in the third period to help earn the Blue Jackets a point and become the seventh member of the team to reach double digits in goals.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (34-22-4): Malkin registered a goal and two assists against the Maple Leafs, with the tally being the 900th point of his career. He became the fourth player in franchise history to reach the milestone, joining Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and teammate Sidney Crosby. Malkin has scored in three straight games and ranks second in the NHL with 33 goals, which matches last season's total and puts him one away from his highest amount since he recorded a career-best 50 in 2011-12.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (29-24-5): Artemi Panarin has been kept off the scoresheet in two straight contests, which is his longest drought since a three-game stretch from Dec. 31-Jan. 4. The 26-year-old Russian has registered a team-leading 46 points in his first season with Columbus and is three shy of 200 for his career. Defenseman Ryan Murray, who has missed the last 34 games with an upper-body injury, will begin a conditioning assignment with Cleveland of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
OVERTIME
1. Blue Jackets D Markus Nutivaara (undisclosed) did not practice on Saturday and is questionable to face the Penguins.
2. Pittsburgh rookie C Zach Aston-Reese has scored all three of his NHL goals over his last three games after notching one assist in his first four contests.
3. Columbus registered 36 shots against Philadelphia, ending its streak of three straight games with 50 or more.