In Glendale, Evgeni Malkin scored in the third period to snap a 1-1 tie with the Arizona Coyotes and help the Penguins to a 4-1 win on Saturday.
Sidney Crosby scored twice in the third, including an empty-net goal to ice the win.
Tristan Jarry made 20 saves in the Pens win.
“It’s a big reflection of our leadership guys out there,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “They just carry the ball for us and had a certain approach that they were determined to win.”
Clayton Keller had the lone strike for Arizona, his goal tied the game, 1-1, in the middle frame.
“Scoring a goal obviously feels amazing, but just kind of seeing everybody be that happy for me makes me feel that much more connected with this group,” Kapanen said. “It’s a great day.”
The Coyotes fell to 20-37-4.
“I don’t know what to say, but we have no pop, no fight, no execution and our decisions were slow, from the coach to the players, from everybody,” Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. “It’s disappointing.”
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the second stanza off a goal from Kasperi Kapanen.
“We don’t score on the 5-on-3, but we just went back to work, we just kept playing, and it didn’t affect our mindset,” Sullivan said. “I think that’s a great lesson for us moving forward.”
The Pens improved to 38-16-9.
Scott Wedgewood made 45 saves in the Coyotes loss.
“Going 1-1 into the third with that team is a good battle and, unfortunately, just a couple of bad bounces at the end and we’re on the other side of it,” Wedgewood said.
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