Penguins 3, Coyotes 2: Captain Sidney Crosby sparked a three-goal third period with a goal and two assists as host Pittsburgh won for only the second time in eight games.

Former Coyote Daniel Winnik and Steve Downie also scored as the Penguins moved ahead of the New York Islanders for second place in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand. Evgeni Malkin celebrated his return to the lineup with a pair of assists and Thomas Greiss made 22 saves to earn his first victory since March 6.

Tye McGinn and Tobias Rieder netted third-period goals for Arizona, which had its modest two-game winning streak halted with its second loss to Pittsburgh in eight days. Mike Smith was denied in his bid for his first three-start winning streak of the season despite turning side 43 shots.

After McGinn's redirection at 4:52 of the third broke a scoreless deadlock, the Penguins responded with three goals in a span of 4:08. Winnik buried a rebound in the slot at 7:16 before Downie ripped a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle past Smith during a power play two minutes later.

Crosby boosted his league-best point total to 78 while on another man advantage at 11:24 as the puck deflected in off his knee and skate, prompting a video review before the goal was upheld. Rieder cut the deficit to 3-2 with 1:51 to play by converting captain Shane Doan's crossing pass on the doorstep, but Pittsburgh held on from there.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Penguins D Kris Letang had to be assisted off the ice in the second period after absorbing a heavy hit from Doan and landing hard on his backside before his head hit the boards. Pittsburgh already was short-handed after LW Blake Comeau received a boarding penalty and game misconduct in the first period. ... Coyotes LW Lauri Korpikoski sat out his second game in a row after taking a stick in the mouth in Tuesday's game against Detroit. ... While Malkin and RW Patric Hornqvist returned to the lineup after missing six and five games, respectively, Penguins LW David Perron missed the contest due to illness.