Pittsburgh fans showered Evgeni Malkin with chants of “MVP” Thursday after the NHL's leading points scorer grabbed two goals to lead the streaking Penguins to a 5-1 win over the Nashville Predators. “He was dynamite,” Predators coach Barry Trotz told reporters. “If I had to vote today, there's no question he'd be the MVP for me.” Malkin, who has chalked up 45 goals and 50 assists this season, extended his points streak to six games by opening the scoring just a minute into the game. “I want to score 50 goals,” Malkin said. The Russian center also grabbed the final goal of the game early in the third period, prompting home fans at the Consol Energy Center to start the chant calling for him to be named the NHL's most valuable player. Philadelphia 2, Washington 1 (SO): Wayne Simmonds scored the winner in the fourth round of the shootout, as Philadelphia clipped Washington. Simmonds beat Caps netminder Braden Holtby with a simple, hard wrister to start the round. Ilya Bryzgalov ended the game by stopping Troy Brouwer with the blocker. Phoenix 3, Colorado 2: Raffi Torres posted a goal and an assist as the Phoenix Coyotes took a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The win for Phoenix, which was in ninth in the Western Conference coming into Thursday's play, gives them 86 points. San Jose 2, Boston 1: Antti Niemi carried a shutout late into the third period and finished the game with 16 saves as the San Jose Sharks took a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins. Daniel Winnik and Joe Pavelski each scored for the Sharks, who snapped a two-game losing streak to keep pace in the tightly contested Western Conference postseason race. Los Angeles 1, St. Louis 0 (SO): Jeff Carter recorded the game-winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout to lift the Los Angeles Kings over the St. Louis Blues, 1-0, at Staples Center. Elsewhere it was: Canucks 2, Stars 1; Tampa Bay 3, Edmonton 2; Minnesota 3, Calgary 2.
