Streit scores winner vs. Lightning in Penguins' debut
PITTSBURGH -- Newly acquired defenseman Mark Streit scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Evgeni Malkin scored twice Friday as the Pittsburgh Penguins broke a two-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at PPG Paints Arena.
After Adam Erne opened the scoring for Tampa Bay, Malkin scored twice, both goals set up by Phil Kessel, to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead after two periods. Malkin, who also had an assist, was playing in his 700th NHL game.
The Lightning tied it on a goal by Nikita Kucherov off of a nice feed by Jonathan Drouin, but Streit -- making his Penguins debut after arriving Wednesday by trade -- restored Pittsburgh's lead, 3-2, on a delayed penalty at 2:38 of the third. Streit took a pass from Sidney Crosby, moved down the left side of the slot and slid the puck under the pads of goaltender Peter Budaj.
Justin Schultz scored a power-play goal for Pittsburgh at 16:37, with Streit getting an assist for his second point. Crosby also picked up his second assist. Tom Kuhnhackl added an empty-netter.
Budaj (27-21-3) made 23 saves in his Tampa Bay debut after being acquired Sunday from Los Angeles.
Matt Murray (24-8-3) made 33 saves and tied Gary Inness (1974-75) for most wins by a Pittsburgh rookie goalie.
The Penguins (39-16-8) swept the three-game season series and have won 14 of the past 18 against the Lightning (29-26-8), whose playoff hopes are looking shaky despite having won four of its past six games.
The Lightning took a 1-0 lead at 6:18 of the second period. From the slot, Erne slammed a one-timer from Vladislav Namestnikov past the glove of Murray.
Malkin tied it just six seconds into the Penguins' first power play. He converted a back-door play at 8:39 of the second off of a pass from Kessel, who was along the left wall.
That pair struck again at 16:49 of the second. This time, Malkin was in the high slot when he rifled home a one-timer from Kessel to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Penguins LW/RW Conor Sheary (upper body injury. 13 games) was activated from IR and returned. He slotted back onto the top line. ... C Evgeni Malkin became the seventh Pittsburgh player to reach 700 games. ... D Mark Streit made his Penguins debut and was paired with D Ron Hainsey. Both were acquired in the past week via trades. ... Tampa Bay C Steven Stamkos (knee surgery) joined an optional morning skate. ... Pittsburgh's healthy scratches were D Derrick Pouliot and RW Carter Rowney. ... The Lightning scratched D Luke Witkowski for the ninth straight game.