Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 3

Some news and notes, numbers and quotes from the Penguins’ 5-3 victory against Columbus at Consol Energy Center Sunday evening:

*** Penguins center Evgeni Malkin scored two goals and set up another for his third consecutive three-point game. Sidney Crosby had a pair of assists, so he and Malkin are tied in the scoring race with 64 points each. “[Malkin has] been dominant,” Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said. “He goes around guys, dangles through guys, goes to the net. When he’s on his game, he’s good to have on your side. And definitely one of the best in the league.”

*** The Penguins’ four-game winning streak is their longest since they won seven in a row Oct. 25-Nov. 8.

*** Forward Daniel Winnik, making his Penguins debut, record his first point for them when he set up a Steve Downie goal 18 seconds into the third period.

*** The Penguins’ victory moved them to within three points of the first-place New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. They have two games in hand on the Islanders.

*** James Wisniewski’s power-play goal at 17:33 of the opening period put Columbus up, 1-0. It was the Blue Jackets’ first lead in 317 minutes, 33 seconds of playing time – and lasted 82 seconds, until Malkin scored his first of the game.

*** Kris Letang had two assists to take over the scoring lead among NHL defensemen with 49 points.

*** The Penguins scored on three of six power plays, giving them at least one man-advantage goal in four consecutive games. It was the fourth time this season they have scored four power-play goals in a game.

*** Malkin has a five-game scoring streak and has at least one point in each of his 10 regular-season games against Columbus.

*** Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi appeared in his 700th NHL game.

*** The Penguins are 8-3-1 in their past 12 games.

*** Malkin, on why his backhand has improved of late: “I changed the stick, changed my curve. I took [defenseman Derrick] Pouliot’s stick and [made it] a little bit straighter, and it’s working. I like it, because [you can shoot on] both sides. The backhand is easy, too. If I have a chance on my backhand now, I know there’s a good chance to score.”

*** Crosby has at least one power-play assist in four games in a row.

*** Forward Daniel Winnik, acquired from Toronto Wednesday, had a solid debut. He played 13 minutes, 29 seconds and set up Steve Downie for the Penguins’ fifth goal 18 seconds into the third period. Winnik, who played on a line with Brandon Sutter and Downie, acknowledged that he is still learning the “tendencies” of his new teammates, but said the process shouldn’t take long. “I assume that by next week, I’ll be fully acclimated,” he said.

*** Columbus center Ryan Johansen’s shorthanded goal was the eighth the Penguins have allowed this season.

*** The Penguins remain in the market for an established defenseman as the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. Wednesday approaches.

*** Letang, on what the asking price for Malkin would be if he were offered around at the deadline: “A first-round pick for the next 20 years.”