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With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in their lineup, it’s a bit unfathomable that the Penguins have lost four games in a row and 10 of their last 14 heading into Monday night’s game at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers.

New York has opened as a -135 money line favorite on WagerWeb.com.

Crosby has struggled since the end of November, with just two goals in those 16 games. He was held pointless in Saturday’s loss to the Panthers, and the frustration seemed to show as he dropped the gloves against Florida’s Brett McLean and recorded a season-high 21 penalty minutes.

Malkin, meanwhile, has no goals in the past seven games, and the Pittsburgh power play hasn’t connected in the past six games (0-for-24). The Penguins are 4-10 in their past 14 games, with five of the losses coming to teams under .500.

The Rangers have also struggled recently, losing four of their last five games, but they have beaten Pittsburgh twice this season by 3-2 scores in a shootout. The Rangers are out of the Atlantic Division lead for the first time this season and are 13-12-2 since their 10-2-1 start.

New York has given up a league-high 12 short-handed goals and league-high 7 at home. Yet the Rangers still have the NHL’s best penalty-killing at home, 87.8 percent. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist is expected to start after dealing with a stomach ailment over the weekend. He went 1-2-1 with a 4.01 goals-against average in his last four December starts before sitting out vs. the Capitals. But he is 8-4-0 with a 1.81 GAA in his last 12 regular-season starts against Pittsburgh.



Pittsburgh, +115 on the WagerWeb.com money line, might get back defenseman Philippe Boucher tonight. He practiced Sunday after missing the past two games with an undisclosed injury.

The Pens have not won in regulation at Madison Square Garden since Oct. 12, 2006 are 1-4-3 since. Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was pulled Saturday after allowing three goals on 12 shots, is 2-5-3 with a 3.52 GAA in 10 career road starts against the Rangers.

WAGERWEB.COM KEY TRENDS
Penguins are 6-1 in their last 7 after allowing 5 goals or more in their previous game.
Penguins are 13-3 in their last 16 games following a loss of 3 or more goals.
Penguins are 24-11 in their last 35 vs. Atlantic.
Penguins are 3-7 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Penguins are 15-37-2 in their last 54 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals.
Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Penguins are 1-6 in their last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Penguins are 1-9 in their last 10 games playing on 1 days rest.
Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
Rangers are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 Monday games.
Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Rangers are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. Atlantic.
Rangers are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Rangers are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in New York.
Home team is 37-17-1 in the last 55 meetings.
Penguins are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings in New York.

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