PITTSBURGH -- Evgeni Malkins scoring burst was good enough through two periods that the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to hold off the Chicago Blackhawks in the lacklustre third. Malkin had three assists as Pittsburgh built a three-goal lead, held off a furious charge by the NHL-leading Blackhawks, and snapped their five-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday night. "He is definitely demanding of the puck right now," said Chris Kunitz, Malkins linemate. "He wants to make plays, and he is having success He is just a dominating player when he wants the puck." Malkin assisted on goals by Kunitz, James Neal and Tyler Kennedy, giving him points in all six games since Penguins captain Sidney Crosby left the lineup again because of concussion symptoms. Malkin has six goals and nine assists in that stretch in which the Penguins lost three of the first four before Malkin had a hat trick in an 8-3 victory over Buffalo on Saturday. Just 20th in the league in points on Dec. 13, Malkins 11 points in four games over a week have moved him into a tie with Phil Kessel, Claude Giroux and Henrik Sedin for the NHL lead with 39. Malkin has at least two points in nine of his past 14 games. "Geno has been a force offensively," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "Hes also a guy were counting on to play against other teams top lines right now, and hes been good at both ends of the rink. Hes been powerful, making plays and driving the net. Hes going to have 10 scoring chances again tonight the way hes dominating and the way hes playing." Jonathan Toews and Viktor Stalberg scored over the first 6:12 of the third for Chicago (21-9-4), which had won five straight on the road. The Blackhawks dominated the final period, holding a 19-4 edge in shots. They had a 6-on-4 skating advantage for the final 1:29 after a tripping penalty to Neal -- his third minor of the game -- and the pulling of goalie Ray Emery. But they couldnt beat Marc-Andre Fleury, who moved into second in the NHL with his 17th win of the season and 201st of his career. "It was a little crazy back there," Fleury said. "We made it interesting with that penalty, but the guys on the PK did a very good job with the six-on-four." Coming off a career high-tying, five-point game, Malkin matched the season high for assists he set Saturday. During a first-period power play, Malkin slid a deft pass to Kunitz to spring him into the Blackhawks zone. Kunitz beat Emery between the pads to score for the third straight game, netting his 12th of the season. The power play resulted from an instigating penalty given to John Scott, who reacted after Deryk Engelland led with his forearm in delivering a hit to Marcus Krugers head. Kruger played the remainder of the period but didnt play after that. Engelland wasnt penalized for the hit. "Tough hit," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "High hit in a tough area. He was in a tough spot." Quenneville said Kruger would be evaluated Wednesday. Malkin set up Neal for his 19th of the season -- 13th at home -- 2:45 into the second. Neal has a six-game point streak. Defenceman Matt Niskanen assisted on each of the games first two goals to give him 100 career points and nine points in eight games. Kennedy made it 3-0 with 3:27 left in the second with his fourth of the season and first since Nov. 25 off a nifty setup from defenceman Ben Lovejoy, who played his first game since Nov. 3 due to a broken wrist. The Penguins were 11-0-2 when leading after two periods, but the Blackhawks had rallied for at least a point in five of 13 games they trailed heading into the third. Just 49 seconds into the third, Toews matched Neal with his 19th as each moved one behind Tampa Bays Steven Stamkos for the league lead in goals. Stalberg had the first assist on the goal by Toews, and he scored his sixth of the season 5:23 later, the result of crisp passing by Patrick Kane and Marian Hossa. "We basically handed them two points," Stalberg said. "We have to play like we did in the third for a full game. Its as simple as that." NOTES: Chicago LW Patrick Sharp had his career-best, nine-game point streak snapped. It was the longest in the NHL this season. ... Hossa extended his point streak to six games. ... Blackhawks D Brent Seabrook played two days after being knocked out of a win over Calgary Flames on an illegal hit from behind by Rene Bourque. Bourque was suspended for two games. ... Blackhawks LW Dan Carcillo sat out a third consecutive game because of an upper body injury. ... Pittsburgh C Jordan Staal (lower-body) played for the first time in three games. ... Toews leads the NHL with 23 road points. ... Chicago hasnt won in regulation in Pittsburgh since Feb. 22, 1997. ... The Blackhawks fell to 10-3-4 in one-goal games. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Russell-Westbrook-Jersey/]... . Brand was available after the Philadelphia 76ers this week used the one-time amnesty provision in the new CBA to let him go and not have the $18.1 million he is owed in the final season of his five-year deal count against their salary cap or luxury tax. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/]http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.... . His streak of 20-point games goes on. In their first meeting since a verbal clash led to Anthonys one-game suspension, New Yorks All-Star forward scored 28 points and the Knicks ended an 11-game losing streak in Boston with an 89-86 victory over the Celtics on Thursday night. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Detlef-Schrempf-Jersey/]ht... . "If (Toronto) gave me the opportunity, I dont even think Id let them finish the question. Yes. Im in," Carter said, speaking on Cybulski and Company. "Could I see it? Absolutely," Carter continued. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Serge-Ibaka-Jersey/]http:/... . His three years as an NFL executive didnt go as hoped. And for perhaps the first time in his football life, Holmgren came up short as a leader. This loss was tough to swallow. [url=http://www.thunderteamofficialshop.com/Authentic-Kendrick-Perkins-Jersey/]h... .J. -- A year ago, Peter DeBoer was unemployed and wondering about his future.Time is running out on this NFL season -- the fantasy playoffs start this week, in most cases -- and the proximity to the end of the season is providing a clearer delineation between those teams that have something to play for and those that do not. This week, there are five spreads of a touchdown or more, with two more lines lingering at 6.5, so it wont come as a shock if some of these perceived mismatches end up in Blowoutsville. However, lets not write off the week based on seven games with an expected spread of (around) a touchdown or more, because there are also seven games with a spread of a field goal or less, which suggests that there will be several close games, whether thats because of hotly-contested games between playoff contenders (say, Baltimore at Washington) or simply an inept pairing (say, the Jets in Jacksonville). Check out this weeks Power Rankings for more of my takes on all 32 teams. A look at the Week 14 matchups in the NFL: DENVER (-10) at OAKLANDThe Broncos have won seven straight, scoring at least 30 points in six of those wins. Knowshon Moreno has provided enough in the ground game for the passing attack to remain prolific, particularly against an Oakland defence that allows 7.8 yards per pass attempt and a touchdown every 17.17 passes, which ranks 30th in the league. Oakland is expected to have RB Darren McFadden back in the lineup, finally, and using McFadden and Marcel Reece to keep the ball away from the Broncos would make sense. No matter what gameplan makes sense, though, the Raiders have lost five straight, by an average margin of 18.6 points. BALTIMORE (+2.5) at WASHINGTONThe Ravens have scored 49 points over the last three weeks, though two of those games have been against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a decidedly stronger defence than what Baltimore will face in D.C. this week. The Redskins have allowed 24 touchdown passes, tied with two other teams for the second-worst mark in the league, which corresponds with the 299.0 passing yards per game that also ranks 31st in the league. Not only that, but CB DeAngelo Hall could be slowed by an ankle injury, which would tend to additionally favour Ravens wideouts Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin. Washington has won three straight, and take their league-best rushing offence up against a Ravens defence that ranks 23rd against the run. The Ravens D has been depleted by injuries, the latest to OLB Terrell Suggs, who may try to play despite a torn bicep, so they are likely to have a hard time keeping up with Redskins QB Robert Griffin III, who is much more dangerous now that WR Pierre Garcon (12 catches, 192 YDS, 2 TD in the last two games) is in the lineup and producing. KANSAS CITY (+6.5) at CLEVELANDAfter last weeks emotional win against Carolina, Chiefs QB Brady Quinn leads his current team into Cleveland, where he washed out, passing for 1957 yards, 10 TD and 9 INT in 14 games from 2007-2009. Quinn was exceptionally accurate against Carolina, completing 19 of 23 passes and hell need to be sharp against Clevelands secondary, where corners Joe Haden and Sheldon Brown provide quality coverage. Quinn may need to deliver because the Browns run defence has also been decent, as defensive tackles Atyhba Rubin and Philip Taylor are a challenging tandem to deal with in the middle of the line. The Chiefs have surrendered a league-high 25 touchdown passes (a league-worst one per 13.40 pass attempts), so that presents a favourable matchup for QB Brandon Weeden and wide receivers Josh Gordon and Greg Little. Of course, the Chiefs also surrender 4.7 yards per carry, and 129.3 rushing yards per game, so RB Trent Richardson is a candidate for a big game too. Thats how it rolls against the Chiefs -- its not easy keeping a fever pitch for more than a week, particularly when the team is effectively playing out the string. SAN DIEGO (+7) at PITTSBURGHBen Roethlisberger returns for the Steelers, giving them a much different dynamic than the last three weeks with Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich. With Roethlisberger, the Steelers have a dangerous passing game. WR Mike Wallace has 10 catches for 77 yards and no touchdowns over the last three weeks, with no Roethlisberger, and WR Antonio Brown just returned to action last week, so Pittsburgh can take advantage of a Chargers defence that has allowed 21 touchdown passes. With a relatively healthy Rashard Mendenhall being put on the sidelines, bruisers Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman get the task of carrying the ball for the Steelers. San Diegos miserable offence faces a Steelers defence that ranks first against the pass, allowing 166.7 passing yards per game. However, with Steelers CB Ike Taylor out, that might help the matchups on the perimeter somewhat and if the Chargers are going to get the ball downfield, WR Danario Alexander would seem to be the target -- he has 23 catches for 406 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games. TENNESSEE (+5) at INDIANAPOLISTennessees defence doesnt really have a strong suit, ranking 27th against the run and 26th against the pass, but since the Colts strength has clearly been QB Andrew Luck throwing to his trio of wide receivers -- Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Donnie Avery -- that figures to be the Colts plan of attack. Well, that and Indy runs at a 3.9 yards per carry clip, making Vick Ballard and Donald Brown far less enticing. Tennessee has a more proven runner, Chris Johnson, though Johnson was held under 100 yards from scrimmage last week for the first time since Week Five at Minnesota. Indys defence is similarly shaky and the Titans have some receivers worth considering, whether its Nate Washington, Kenny Britt, Kendall Wright or Jared Cook, but since Jake Locker isnt as effective as Andrew Luck, none of those receivers is as appealing as Indys pass-catchers. N.Y. JETS (-3) at JACKSONVILLEThere may not be a less appealing game on the docket, particularly if Jaguars WR Cecil Shorts -- a feel-good story of the productive underdog -- cant return from the concussion he suffered last week at Buffalo. If Shorts doesnt play, Justin Blackmon will have to rebound from last weeks one-catch performance. Jacksonville is also down to their fourth-string running back, Montell Owens, a 28-year-old who has 112 rushing yards on 21 carries in his career. He may have a decent workload, against the Jets 29th-ranked run defence, but hes unproven and is only getting the chance because Maurice Jones-Drew, Jalen Parmele and Rashad Jennings are injured. Its not as though the Jets have great options either, though RB Shonn Greene has a decent matchup against Jacksonvilles 31st-ranked run D. Of course, if the Jets are going to appear remotely competent, they need QB Mark Sanchez to perform much better than he has recently (in the last six games, for example, he has four touchdown passes and seven interceptions). Jets TE Dustin Keller suffered an ankle injury, that could keep him out, but its tough to like anyone in the Jets passing game as long as Sanchez is involved. Jeremy Kerley is the best of a bad lot. CHICAGO (-3) at MINNESOTAHaving lost three of four, the Bears arent quite so fearsome and injuries are ravaging what was a dominant defence in the first half of the season. MLB Brian Urlacher is out with a strained hamstring and cornerbacks Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman are hurting too. Jennings dislocated his shoulder last week and Tillman has a chipped bone in his foot that hes playing through. Fortunately for the Bears, the Vikings, with no Percy Harvin, dont have wide receiver threats (to say nothing of QB Christian Ponders poor play) to take advantage of corners that are less than 100%. That means Adrian Peterson will be the difference-maker for Minnesota. Same old, same old. The Vikings have lost four of the last five and will need a strong defensive performance. If CB Antoine Winfield could limit the effectiveness of Bears WR Brandon Marshall, that could keep the score close because Marshall has been the Bears most consistent threat and if Minnesota can win the battle at the line, they could throw a wrench into the Bears playoff plans. ATLANTA (-3) at CAROLINAWhat makes this matchup interesting is that the Falcons bring their high-octane passing attack to Carolina, where the Panthers actually have been pretty effective against the pass this season. Although the Panthers allow a leeague-high 67.dddddddddddd3% of passes to be completed, it still only yields 7.0 yards per attempt and 218.9 yards per game, both of which rank in the better half of the league. If the Panthers can slow down Falcons wide receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, they probably have a chance; that just hasnt been so easy for most teams this season. As for the Panthers passing game, Brandon LaFell could be done for the year, with turf toe, providing Louis Murphy with a decent opportunity across from Steve Smith. While QB Cam Newton has been maligned in his sophomore season, he does have nine touchdowns and two interceptions over the last five games, a stretch during which the Panthers are 2-3 with an overtime loss included. PHILADELPHIA (+7.5) at TAMPA BAYThe Eagles have lost eight straight, allowing more than 30 points in five of the last six, but they still bring an intriguing matchup into this game. RB Bryce Brown, who has run for an astounding 347 yards and four touchdowns in his first two starts, goes up against Tampa Bays No. 1 rush defence, which allows 3.4 yards per carry and 82.3 yards per game. If the Eagles are going to take advantage of the Tampa Bay defence, it should be through the air, since Tampa Bay allows a league-high 309.4 passing yards per game and it missing starting CB Eric Wright, who is serving his PED suspension. Does that mean QB Nick Foles could have some success throwing down the field to wide receivers Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant and Riley Cooper? Probably, but rookie Foles hasnt shown enough to bank on that. Since the Eagles defence has faded, they are still more vulnerable to the pass, allowing opposing quarterbacks a 98.8 QB Rating, which ranks 29th in the league. Having cut pass-rushing DE Jason Babin recently, that doesnt appear to be getting any better, so expect continued productivity from Bucs wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. ST. LOUIS (+3) at BUFFALOThe Rams are 2-1-1 in their last four games, with RB Steven Jackson breaking through for 369 rushing yards over those four games and he should be the Rams focal point against the Bills 30th-ranked run defence. When they take to the air, expect QB Sam Bradford to keep throwing to WR Chris Givens. With Danny Amendola hurting, Givens had 16 catches for 207 yards and a touchdown. Buffalos ground game was very successful last week, against Jacksonville, though Fred Jackson ended up with a greater portion of the carries than C.J. Spiller. Sticking with the running game and safe passing is the Bills best approach against the Rams, whose corners, Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins, have been playmakers, making it riskycat CINCINNATIThe Cowboys have won three of four to keep playoff hopes alive, and have starting RB DeMarco Murray back, which is good because Cincinnatis front seven wont be easy to get the jump on. Dallas always