PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Penguins, facing a critical deficit, will look to veteran center Evgeni Malkin to spark a turnaround when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 3 of their NHL playoff series on Wednesday night. The Eastern Conference first-round matchup shifts to Xfinity Mobile Arena with the Flyers holding a 2-0 series lead after a pair of narrow road victories. Philadelphia edged Pittsburgh 3-2 on April 18 and followed with a 2-0 shutout on Monday. Malkin has been a bright spot for the Penguins amid the losses, registering a goal and an assist in the series opener. The star forward is in strong form, with 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in his last eight games overall, including a four-point night in a 9-4 win over Florida on April 4. Pittsburgh, which finished the regular season 41-42, must solve Philadelphia’s defensive structure and goaltending to avoid a daunting 3-0 series hole. The Penguins’ recent results have been inconsistent, mixing high-scoring wins with defensive lapses. The Flyers (44-39 in the regular season) have found a winning formula, taking six of their last eight games. Center Christian Dvorak has been a steady contributor, with points in three of his last five contests, including an assist in Game 1. Philadelphia’s recent success against Pittsburgh extends beyond the playoffs, as they are 4-1-1 in the last six head-to-head meetings. The intensity of the Pennsylvania rivalry is amplified in the postseason. The Penguins will need key performers beyond Malkin, like Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell — who combined for two points in Game 1 — to break through against a confident Flyers squad playing its first home playoff game of the series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT Wednesday. Game 4 is set for Saturday in Philadelphia.