Entering Wednesday’s home game against the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel was on a career-best five-game goal-scoring streak. Such a surge allowed him to become the team’s leader in goals (eight) and points (15) this season.

He is also is one of the team’s leaders in penalty minutes this season with 10. Four of those have been incurred through a pair of goaltender interference penalties in recent weeks.

In total, Guentzel has had four instances where he’s made contact with an opposing goaltender this season, and two of those encounters have led to him getting a free seat in the penalty box.

First, in a 4-2 home loss to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 30, during a power-play opportunity for the Penguins, Guentzel jabbed a puck out of mid-air but smacked his stick off the mask of goaltender Jonathan Bernier in the process. Play was halted for the puck being touched with a high stick, but there was no penalty.

On Nov. 11, in a 3-2 home shootout win against the Florida Panthers, during a three-on-three sequence in overtime, Guentzel tried to redirect a puck on net from the right of the crease but ended up crashing into goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, incurring a goaltending interference minor.

Less than a week later, during a 2-1 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 16, Guentzel got loose on something of a breakaway during a power-play opportunity and ran over goaltender Dustin Tokarski after Sabres defenseman Colin Miller appeared to trip him. There were no penalties.

On Monday, during the early stages of a 3-1 road win against the Winnipeg Jets, Guentzel rushed the net from the left wing. With Jets defenseman Neal Pionk sealing him off from the slot, Guentzel cannonballed right into goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and received another goaltender interference penalty.

Coach Mike Sullivan suggested Guentzel’s more frequent … interactions … with opposing goaltenders is a byproduct of Guentzel’s desire to create offense from in and around the net.

“I don’t think there’s any intent there,” Sullivan said. “He has a nose for the net. He goes to the net, and he’s trying to score. There’s no real intent on his part other than trying to get to the net, trying to increase his angle or his opportunity to finish in those areas of the rink. Jake’s a real competitive guy, and he’s brave. He’s willing to go to the hard areas. He’s willing to (endure) cross checks and (deal with) the physical play to try to score.”

Still no time table for Malkin

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been sidelined all season as he recovers from offseason surgery to his right knee.  

Injured Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin skated prior to his team’s morning skate in PPG Paints Arena. In recent weeks, he has increased his activities on the ice as he recovers from offseason surgery to his left knee.

On the first day of training camp in September, general manager Ron Hextall indicated Malkin would miss at least the first two months of the season. That’s as close to anything resembling a hard date the team has offered on a potential return for the franchise center.

“We have a ballpark of when we think he’ll be available,” Sullivan said. “Every player is always different. I’m always reluctant to put a date out there because then what happens if we don’t meet that date? Everybody speculates. It’s not productive from my standpoint. We have an idea of when we think we’re going to get him back. We’ll see how he progresses here as he gets closer. What I can tell you is that we’re encouraged with the progress that he’s made.”

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