PENGUINS 5, PREDATORS 1: Evgeni Malkin scored twice to help host Pittsburgh clinch a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season Thursday.

Malkin, who netted his 44th and 45th goals, leads the NHL with 95 points. He and has seven goals and 14 points during a six-game point streak.

James Neal added four assists for a Penguins squad that won for the 13th time in the last 14 games.

Pittsburgh scored four unanswered goals on a struggling Pekka Rinne, who allowed five goals on 23 shots. The Finnish netminder has surrendered 12 goals in his last three games.

Alexander Radulov, who was playing his first game since returning from Russia, scored the lone goal for the Predators before Malkin iced the contest with his second marker of the game in the third period.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves for his 40th victory.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Predators center Paul Gaustad (wrist) and defenseman Roman Josi (upper body) didn’t play. … The Penguins have won nine straight home games. … Pittsburgh trails the New York Rangers by a single point for top spot in the Eastern Conference. ... Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was held off the scoresheet but was a plus-1. ... Radulov last appeared in an NHL game April 20, 2008.