Crosby, Malkin help Penguins cap successful trip to Sweden in Global Series

Malkin and Crosby helped make life easy for Murashov early. After Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon scored on a screened snap shot from the left point at 2:19, Malkin made it 2-0 when his attempted centering pass from behind the net deflected in off the left skate of Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague a 8:08.

Crosby beat goalie Juuse Saros to the short side from the left circle to make it 3-0 at 10:13.

Penguins coach Dan Muse said Crosby’s and Malkin’s contributions went beyond their offensive contributions, though.

“Obviously, those guys are a huge part of it there with the goals, but I also think the way the team played in the first period, we were really happy with that,” Muse said. “That’s the way we needed to come out. So, that’s a credit to those guys. That’s a credit to our leadership too, of making sure the group is ready to go.”

Murashov carried the load in the second period when the Penguins ran into penalty trouble and the Predators had three consecutive power plays, including a 5-on-3 advantage for 34 seconds. Murashov stopped all eight Predators’ shots in the period, including a left pad save on Steven Stamkos’ one-timer from the left circle during the 5-on-3 at 12:51.

Murashov closed out his first shutout with 11 more saves in the third period, ending the Penguins’ recent trend of surrendering leads late that included a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings in his NHL debut on Nov. 9.

“I thought today he looked calm and poised,” Crosby said. “There was a big test there in the second with all those penalties we took, the 5-on-3, and that puts a lot of pressure on your goalie, and I thought he handled it really well.

“So, he was steady and gave us a chance here today.”