PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin took a third-period penalty that could have played a prominent role in costing the Pittsburgh Penguins a victory Saturday night.
He then scored the goal that made that victory possible.
Malkin broke a 3-3 tie with a sensational individual effort at 18:40 of the third period, stealing the puck at center ice and charging into the Washington zone before beating Capitals goalie Darcy Kuemper from inside the right circle.
That wiped out a three-goal surge Washington staged in the third period.
The Penguins’ 4-3 win at PPG Paints Arena Saturday night, coupled with the New York Islanders 2-0 loss at home to Buffalo, lifted the Penguins to within a point of New York, which holds the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference playoff field. The Penguins have a game in hand on the Islanders.
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