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The Winnipeg Jets road woes continued last night in Pittsburgh.

Evgeni Malkin had two goals and three assists and Sidney Crosby added four helpers as the Penguins downed Winnipeg 8-4. James Neal recorded a hat-trick and Tyler Kennedy found the back of the Jets net twice as Pittsburgh moved within one point of the NHL's Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers.

Bryan Little scored a pair of goals for the Jets who remain four points back of the Washington Capitals in the race for the final playoff spot in the East. Tim Stapleton and Jim Slater also scored for Winnipeg. Ondrej Pavelec was pulled in the second period and replaced by Chris Mason after allowing five Penguins goals on 24 shots.

Defencemen Randy Jones and Mark Flood and forwards Eric Fehr, Chris Thorburn and Nik Antropov did not play.

The Jets, who have nine games remaining, will meet the Capitals on Friday and then wrap up their three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators.