Instead, Vokoun lost his third straight game. He gave up six goals in his previous start, against the Flyers, and has not won since Feb. 3.

"It was an onslaught on Tomas," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He saw a lot of shots (22), he saw the power plays repeatedly. It was more of a situation where the team needed a change more than the goaltender needed a change."

Vokoun had a good track record playing against the Panthers last season, going 3-0 with two shutouts while playing for the Capitals. He allowed only one shot past him out of 85.

Malkin is on the injured list because of concussion symptoms, including short-term memory loss and headaches, after being hit into the boards by Panthers defenseman Erik Gudbranson in a Penguins win last Friday.

Malkin is not expected to play on the current road trip that continues Thursday in Carolina and ends Saturday in Montreal. How much longer he will be out is unknown.

NOTES: Center Stephen Weiss, Florida's all-time leader in games played, missed Tuesday's game to fly home to Toronto and attend his grandmother's funeral. ... Weiss, a free agent after the season, is off to a slow start with one goal and three assists in 14 games and a minus-11. Weiss, 29, has a no-trade clause in his contract and was benched for the final six minutes of Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Bruins. ... Panthers winger Alex Kovalev, who is one assist shy of 600, was a healthy scratch. ... Panthers defenseman Filip Kuba was scratched because of an upper-body injury. ... Several Penguins players were at the top or near the top of the NHL in statistical categories entering Tuesday's games. James Neal was tied for third with 12 goals. Sidney Crosby was second in points with 28 and second in assists with 19. Malkin was tied for fourth with 17 assists. ... Two Panthers who are on the injured list -- Kris Versteeg (upper body) and Scottie Upshall (ankle) -- are close to returning to the lineup. ... Pens defenseman Mark Eaton, signed Monday, is not yet ready to play, according to Bylsma. ... The Panthers conclude their three-game homestand Thursday against Buffalo.