NEW YORK – Marek Malik scored his first goal in regulation and fellow defenseman Maxim Kondratiev netted his first in the NHL to lead the New York Rangers to their sixth straight victory, 2-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

It is New York’s longest winning streak since a six-game run from Nov. 3-14, 2001. The Rangers are 11-3 in their last 14 games while the slumping Penguins (7-13-6) dropped their fourth straight, including three road contests.

Malik has quickly become a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden after ending the longest shootout in NHL history last Saturday night in the 15th round against Washington with a sparkling between the legs move.

His latest goal, which gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 6:31 of the second period, was much more conventional.

After a faceoff win by Michael Nylander, defenseman Michal Rozsival slid the puck from right to left inside the blue line. Malik wound up for a shot from above the left circle and beat Marc-Andre Fleury high with his first regulation goal in 40 games.

Kondratiev made it 1-0 at 7:52 of the first period with New York’s first power-play goal in four games. They had failed on 18 straight man advantages before Kondratiev got a shot through traffic from the left point with one second remaining on Dick Tarnstrom’s 4-minute penalty for high-sticking.

Rookie goalie Henrik Lundqvist, filling in for injured regular Kevin Weekes, made 35 saves to earn his 10th victory (10-3-2).