BUFFALO, N.Y. — Patric Hornqvist scored twice in leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-2 win over Buffalo on Thursday night that extended the Sabres’ skid to five straight.

Sidney Crosby and Marcus Pettersson also scored, and the Penguins won consecutive games after losing six in a row. Evgeni Malkin had two assists to follow a four-assist outing in a 7-3 win over Ottawa on Tuesday.

Matt Murray stopped 28 shots to improve to 3-4-1 in his past eight starts and win consecutive games for the first time since a 6-0 run from Dec. 28 to Feb. 2.

The Penguins assured themselves of staying in third place in the tightly contested Metropolitan Division standings. The day began with eight points separating the first-place Washington Capitals and fifth-place New York Islanders.