Ascending Penguins overpower slumping Red Wings

Egor Chinakhov had a goal and an assist in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-1 win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.

The Penguins are 3-1-0 in their last four games, and have outscored opponents 14-4 during a two-game winning streak. The solid stretch of play has elevated Pittsburgh (38-21-16, 92 points) into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Stuart Skinner stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn for the win. Skinner's strong outing was highlighted by a big pad save on Alex DeBrincat late in the second period.

Rickard Rakell, Anthony Mantha, Justin Brazeau and Noel Acciari all scored for the Penguins. Evgeni Malkin recorded an assist in his return after missing four games with an upper-body injury.

The Red Wings are 1-4-0 in their past five games and 4-7-2 in their past 13. Detroit (39-27-8, 86 points) has fallen outside the playoff picture and is battling with four other teams in the crowded race for the last Eastern Conference wild-card slot.

Dylan Larkin scored his 30th goal for Detroit's only tally of the game.

Red wings goalie Cam Talbot stopped 15 of 17 shots over two periods of relief duty. John Gibson started the game in net but was replaced at the first intermission after allowing three goals on 14 shots.

Pittsburgh's big opening frame began on Rakell's partially screened shot from the slot at the 4:10 mark. At 8:34 of the first period, a scrum in front of the Red Wings' net saw Gibson make two saves before Mantha buried the Penguins' third chance.

Chinakhov extended the lead at 18:02 of the first period with a shot that deflected off the stick of Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider.

The Red Wings looked much sharper during the second period and got an early strike on Larkin's power-play goal at 3:17. Just over nine minutes later, Brazeau restored Pittsburgh's three-goal lead by tipping Connor Clifton's point shot past Talbot.

Acciari added an insurance goal by depositing a rebound 12:09 into the third period.

--Field Level Media