Evgeni Malkin scored a goal and set up three others, giving him seven points in two days, and the Pittsburgh Penguins finally figured out how to beat cross-state Philadelphia in a 4-3 victory Sunday. The Flyers, swept in eight games by Pittsburgh last season, never trailed them in their four previous victories against Pittsburgh this season with Martin Biron in goal only to fall behind 3-1 in the second period as Malkin played a role in every goal. Malkin assisted on goals by Petr Sykora, Sergei Gonchar and Kristopher Letang and scored himself to extend a scoring surge that began when star Sidney Crosby injured his right ankle Jan. 18.

Malkin has 15 points during a stretch of five consecutive multiple-point games, including seven points in weekend games against the Kings and Flyers, and has 21 points, with eight goals, in 10 games with Crosby out.

R.J. Umberger scored twice for Philadelphia and now has seven of his 11 goals this season against his hometown Penguins, but he couldn't prevent the Flyers' second loss in as many days.

The Flyers, 2-0 losers at home Saturday to the Rangers, fell four points behind Atlantic Division leader Pittsburgh, which increased its lead over idle to New Jersey to three points. The Penguins are in first place by themselves for the first time this season.

Malkin, last season's NHL rookie of the year, promised when Crosby was hurt to assume Crosby's role as team leader and leading scorer, and he's done that and more. The Penguins won their third in a row and are 6-2-2 without Crosby, who probably won't return for at least several more weeks.

Penguins goalie Ty Conklin made 27 saves, despite allowing goals in the third period by Umberger and Scott Hartnell, and is 14-3-3 after beginning the season as the injured Marc-Andre Fleury's backup.

Malkin drew multiple defenders as he skated down the left wing boards with the Flyers up 1-0 in the first, allowing Sykora to get open near the right circle and score his 18th.

Later in the period, Malkin drew Hartnell into taking a roughing penalty, even though it appeared Malkin shoved Hartnell first, and the penalty led to Gonchar's power-play goal 38 seconds into the second. Malkin scored his 31st of the season late in the second, taking Sykora's return pass to score from the slot while slipping to his knees.

The first four games between the division rivals featured numerous fights, outbursts by both head coaches and a renewal of a rivalry that had grown tame during four consecutive poor seasons by Pittsburgh from 2002-06. But this game wasn't as feisty, perhaps because both teams were playing their second afternoon game in as many days. The Penguins beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 Saturday as Malkin had two goals.

Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu and the Flyers' Steve Downie traded punches during an extended fight late in the first that Downie halted by dropping his hands and skating away, but there were no other fights.

Notes:@ Pittsburgh is 4-1-1 in its last six games. ... Briere didn't score a goal for the eighth consecutive game. ... Umberger has six goals and five assists in five games against Pittsburgh this season and eight goals and 10 assists in 20 career games. ... Malkin has 31 points in 17 games.

Written By ALAN ROBINSON