Pittsburgh Penguins’ Pierre-Olivier Joseph (73) celebrates with Jeff Carter after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puska
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin pounced on a loose puck and fired it into the net with 34 seconds remaining to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins by the Dallas Stars 2-1. Malkin’s ninth goal of the year came after Bryan Rust’s shot attempt from in close was poke-checked away. While Rust’s momentum carried him into Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger, Malkin fired the puck into the open net to push Pittsburgh’s winning streak to six. Pierre-Olivier Joseph scored his first goal of the season for Pittsburgh. Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots to improve to 9-0-2 in his last 11 starts. Roope Hintz collected his 12th goal of the season for Dallas. Oettinger made 23 saves but had no chance on Malkin’s game-winner.