Penguins 3, Islanders 1

Some news, notes, numbers and nuggets from the Penguins’ 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders at Consol Energy Center Saturday night:

*** Evgeni Malkin had an exceptional performance, scoring a five-on-three power play goal and setting up Patric Hornqvist’s game-winner 55 seconds later in the second period. Even more impressive, he skated almost the length of the ice and dived to break up a three-on-one break before the Islanders could get a shot on goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. “We all know he’s a talented player with the puck and all that,” Penguins center Brandon Sutter said. “But when he makes a defensive play like that, it goes a long way in the dressing room. We need that from everybody. For him to come out and do that, that was awesome.”

*** The Penguins’ penalty-killers, the worst in the league at the start of the evening, had a spectacular performance, snuffing all seven Islanders power plays, including a two-man advantage that lasted for 86 seconds. “They came through, big-time,” Penguins coach Mike Johnston said.

*** Penguins center Sidney Crosby had two assists, giving him nine points in four games this season. He has more assists (60) and points (85) against the Islanders than any other team.

*** The Penguins’ work while shorthanded prevented the Islanders from becoming the first team in franchise history to win its five five games. “The reason they were 4-0 is their power play, and we shut them down,” winger Pascal Dupuis said.

*** Hornqvist has points in seven consecutive games, dating to last season, when he was with Nashville.

*** The Penguins killed seven power plays without giving up a goal for the first time since Dec. 20, 2012, when they did not give Philadelphia a goal in eight tries with the extra man.

*** Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has recorded a power-play assist in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.

*** The Penguins have won four consecutive games and eight of the past nine against New York.

*** Islanders coach Jack Capuano, on the Penguins’ special-teams dominance: “You can’t give those guys the opportunities. But we had the opportunities, too, and we didn’t capitalize. Obviously, they did, and that’s the difference in the game.”

*** Crosby’s assist on the Penguins’ final goal was his 500th in the NHL. He got it in his 554th game, sixth-fewest in league history.

*** The Islanders had won their previous seven games, including five in a row on the road, dating to last season.

*** Crosby, on Malkin’s stellar performance: “He dominated. It’s fun to see him when he’s out there doing that.”

*** Defenseman Scott Harrington and forward Andrew Ebbett were the Penguins’ healthy scratches.

*** The Penguins will be off Sunday.