Malkin did not have a shot on goal in his second game back from an undisclosed injury. At the same time, the second-line center could've done less Saturday, when he went to the penalty box three times in the first two periods.
"I understand I'll be more disciplined next game," Malkin said. "We're not happy. Not just me. I think the whole team is not happy with what we did tonight."
RELATED: [Complete Islanders vs. Penguins series coverage]
Crosby, who had two shots, did not have a point for a third straight game as the Islanders tied the best-of-7 series. Game 5 is at Pittsburgh on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, TVAS2, ATTSN-PT, MSG, MSG+).
Crosby's right wing Bryan Rust has one goal, scored in a 2-1 Game 2 win, and left wing Jake Guentzel has one assist from Game 1.
"We had some good looks," Crosby said. "They're not going to give you a ton, so when you get an opportunity, you have to capitalize. You have to execute. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that."
Crosby had one assist in four games when the Penguins were swept by the Islanders in the 2019 Eastern Conference First Round.
He scored in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 1 to give him 190 points (69 goals, 121 assists) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying Brett Hull for seventh in NHL history.
Crosby's highlight since then was a diving block on a shot from Brock Nelson that could've tied Game 3 34 seconds after Brandon Tanev scored the deciding goal with 3:36 remaining in a 5-4 Penguins win Thursday.
Crosby went three games without a point once in the regular season (April 27-May 1 against the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals).
"He's such a great player," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "'Limit him.' That's the best way you can describe it. He's always going to get something, he's always going to create, he's always going to be doing a lot of good stuff. We just have done a decent job, but he's got a level very few people in this business have."