Crosby's Streak Hits 25 Games, Pens Thump Thrashers 6-3
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Sidney Crosby got two goals and two assists in the Penguins' 6-3 win over the Atlanta Thrashers in Pittsburgh Tuesday night.
Picking up four points in a single night, Crosby extended his point streak to 25 games, joining Wayne Gretzky, Bryan Trottier, Brett Hull and Bernie Nicholls who also reached that milestone during their careers.
Atlanta's Evander Kane got a wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleury just 47 seconds into the first to take a 1-0 lead.
Later in the period, the Penguins got their second power play chance and made it count. Kris Letang found Crosby wide open on the back post to tie the game 1-1.
At 15:18, Dustin Byfuglien scored during Atlanta's power play. His slap shot from the point hit the post and went in.
Crosby answered with 1:26 left to tie it 2-2. Alex Goligoski found Crosby streaking behind the Atlanta defense and roofed a shot over Ondrej Pavelec. Pavelec is now 0-7 against the Penguins in his career.
The Pens then dominated the rest of the game. Craig Adams gave the Pens a 3-2 lead with a shorthanded goal 11:38 into the second. Matt Cooke forced a turnover behind the Atlanta net and fed Adams in the slot for the goal.
Nine seconds into the third, Chris Kunitz poked a loose puck through Pavelec's legs. Crosby and Pascal Dupuis picked up assists on the goal, which was the fastest goal to start a third period in franchise history.
At 13:00, Mark Letestu overpowered Alex Burmistrov in front of the Atlanta net, stole the puck and deked around Pavelec for his eighth goal of the year.
About three minutes later, Crosby appeared to score his third goal of the game. However, Matt Cooke got a piece of it giving Crosby his second assist of the night. Zbynek Michalek picked up the secondary assist.
The deflection happened so quick that many fans didn't notice because hats rained down on the ice, but it was a false alarm.
Eric Boulton capped the scoring in the game with a rebound goal at 16:51 of the third period.
The Penguins will head to New York to take on the Islanders Wednesday night.
