Penguins 4, Islanders 2

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins are rolling so well without Evgeni Malkin, the star center might have trouble cracking the lineup once he is healthy enough to play.

“I think he should be all right,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said Friday night after Pittsburgh beat the New York Islanders 4-2 to extend their winning streak to 11 games.

Malkin has missed seven of those victories because of an undisclosed injury, but the Penguins haven’t missed a beat.

Tomas Vokoun was sharp in making 33 saves, and Brandon Sutter snapped a tie early in the third period for the Penguins, who overcame a pair of one-goal deficits and a poor first period to win again.

Vokoun was the difference-maker early as he allowed only one goal in the first when the Penguins were outshot 14-3 and spent most of the frame in their end.

Despite being down 1-0, the Penguins knew they were fortunate to be that close.

“It could’ve been three, four,” said Crosby, who had two assists. “Vokie kind of weathered that storm, and we were able to get back into it.

“That’s what allowed us to come in here and regroup, knowing that it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Brandon Sutter netted the winning goal when took a pass from Matt Cooke in front off a 2-on-1 rush and scored past goalie Evgeni Nabokov 1:46 into the third period. Joe Vitale and Chris Kunitz had second-period goals for Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh, which hasn’t lost since Feb. 28 at Carolina. >> Continue Reading <<

NOTES: Penguins C Tyler Kennedy missed the game because of an illness and was replaced in the lineup by forward Trevor Smith, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Pittsburgh was also missing D Kris Letang, who sat out his second straight game. … Carkner’s assist was his first point in 11 games this season.

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