COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Evgeni Malkin and the Pittsburgh Penguins finally flexed their offensive muscles. And they needed every bit of scoring they could muster. Malkin had a hat trick and the Penguins almost blew a four-goal lead before holding off the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Monday night to clinch their first-round playoff series in six games. "Its more important that we win the game and (end) the series," Malkin said of the 10th time hes scored three times in a game in his career. "Going into the second round now, you feel so much better when you have confidence. I hope in the next round I can score more." Pittsburgh awaits the winner of the New York-Philadelphia series, with the Rangers leading 3-2 going into Tuesday nights Game 6. Its a good thing for the Penguins that Malkin -- scoreless in his past nine playoff games including the first five in the series -- finally found the net. The Blue Jackets, closer to making tee times than thinking about a Game 7, scored three times in a 4:52 span in the third period to turn up the pressure on the Penguins, an overwhelming favourite before the series got under way. "Were a proud group in here," forward Brandon Dubinsky said. "We didnt want to get embarrassed on home ice. If it was going to be our last game of the season, we didnt want to have any quit. We didnt have any quit in this locker room all season. We just kept pushing and pushing." Brandon Sutter also scored before leaving with an injury and Matt Niskanen had two assists as the Penguins became the first team in the series to score first and win -- but barely. Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves and made a couple of big stops after the game turned into a squeaker. "It was a good test," he said of the wild last few minutes. Coach Dan Bylsma said the toe-to-toe matchup heralded a new level of contentious play between the teams. "Weve got a rivalry going here with the Jackets," he said. "They gave us everything we could handle and it was a nice series for them. That was an extremely tough first-round opponent." Fedor Tyutin, Artem Anisimov and Nick Foligno scored for Columbus, Folignos redirect of a Tyutin shot cut the gap to a goal with 4:47 left. A crowd of 19,189 stood and roared the rest of the way as the Blue Jackets piled up scoring chances. The Penguins were hard pressed to fight off the aggressive Blue Jackets after goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who also had 24 saves, was pulled for an extra attacker with under 2 minutes left. Matt Calvert was wide with a potential tying shot with 3:30 left. Dubinskys shot with 35 seconds left was deflected by Fleury. Columbus had overcome a 3-0 deficit at home in Game 4, scoring on a Fleury gaffe in the final seconds of regulation before Foligno won it in the overtime. "After we got the third goal, anything could happen," coach Todd Richards said. "We had done it the last time we played in the building. My thought was it was going to happen." Up until the last few minutes, it was Malkins game. He hadnt scored in the first 332:52 of the series, then scored three times in a span of 26:11. "I could see it coming in the morning skate," teammate James Neal said. "His shot was going into the back of the net." The Blue Jackets, one of the NHLs youngest teams, looked hopeless until Tyutins shot from the right dot ended Fleurys shutout streak at 97:26 -- since the Blue Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the first period of Game 5. But then Anisimov scored from the left point with 6:06 remaining to make it 4-2 and Foligno redirected a Tyutin shot to cut the lead to 4-3. "That was a big win," said Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, who went goal-less in the series. "Obviously we didnt want to make it as close as we did. But we found a way to win." Notes: The Penguins improved to 8-4 in Game 6s when up 3-2 in the playoffs. ... Columbus was without veteran forward (and Pittsburgh native) R.J. Umberger (shoulder). ... For the second game in a row, the Penguins didnt have D Brooks Orpik, sidelined with an undisclosed injury. ... Sutter was limping as he went to the dressing room in the second period. He did not return. Joe Vitale went knee-to-knee with a Blue Jacket early in the third and was in pain as he left the ice. Custom Sacramento Kings Jerseys . Alen, 28, hit .315 with five home runs, 59 RBI and a career-high nine stolen bases for the Goldeyes last season. He is the longest serving catcher in Goldeyes history, having already spent five seasons with the organization. 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The 21-year-old Wickham headed Sunderland into a 26th-minute lead --to add to the double he scored at Manchester City and his strike in last weekends win at Chelsea -- and then sealed the win with a late header.ST. LOUIS - Lamarcus Joyner has had an up-and-down season. The Rams rookie cornerback is hoping it ends more on an up note.Joyner, the 41st overall pick in the draft, will see action Sunday in St. Louis finale against Seattle (11-4) because fellow rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines is listed as doubtful with a concussion. Gaines, a sixth-round selection, got hurt last week against the New York Giants. He has not practiced this week.This season has gone by real fast and thats why you cant take nothing for granted, Joyner said Friday after practice at Rams Park. Easy come, easy go. I think my rookie year has gone exactly as I expected.Ive matured and Ive learned a lot of new things, he said. Ive grown a lot. Its not been easy. Ive learned to be humble.In eight games, Joyner has 44 tackles, including a season-high 11 against Kansas City. Joyner also has three pass breakups and one quarterback pressure. However, he was set back by a groin injury in the Rams Nov. 9 loss to Arizona.And Gaines took his spot — and kept it.Joyner was sidelined three weeks because of the injury. Then he was a healthy scratch then next two games before getting to play for St. Louis (6-8) last week against the Giants.Gregg Williams, the defensive co-ordinator, remains upbeat about Joyner and his future.Hes done verry well, Williams said.ddddddddddddHes come on and hes battled through some injuries and hopefully well get a chance to see him play a little bit this week.Rams coach Jeff Fisher remains a big Joyner backer, too. He noted Gaines simply played well enough to stay on the field.Hes going to be an outstanding player on our defence, Fisher said. E.J. did a great job in relief and while he was down, hes (Joyner) paid attention.Joyner is ready to test himself against the Seahawks.Thats the nature of the game, Joyner said. Youve got to make the most of your opportunities.NOTES: Receiver Brian Quick spoke to the media for the first time since he dislocated a shoulder and tore the rotator cuff in the Oct. 26 game against Kansas City. Quick was leading the Rams in receiving yards before he was hurt. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Pensacola, Florida. Quick said the surgery went well and he is looking to be back by training camp. ... The Rams practiced outdoors in sunshine with the temperature in the mid-50s. ... DE Chris Long did not practice but it was not injury related. C Scott Wells (back) and CB Janoris Jenkins (back) both returned to practice. All three are listed as probable for Sunday.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '