In a game for first place in the Atlantic Division, the Penguins trounced the New Jersey Devils, 7-1, tonight at Mellon Arena, breaking open a close game with five goals in the third period.

Evgeni Malkin's goal at 8:24 of the third period was his 100th point of the season. He added another goal and an assist before the end of the game.

The Penguins have 93 points and have earned at least one point in seven home games in a row.

They got a quick lead when winger Jarkko Ruutu's pass intended for Jordan Staal went off the stick of New Jersey defenseman Andrew Greene and past goaltender Martin Brodeur at 1:30 of the first period.

That gave Ruutu a goal in three consecutive games, the first time that has happened in his career.

The Devils tied it, 1-1, on a shorthanded goal at 9:04 of the first period when Brian Gionta swung and swatted a pass from John Madden out of the air and by Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Winger Ryan Malone gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead with the only goal of the second period, at 16:14, when he converted a pass from Pascal Dupuis on a two-on-one break.

Malone got his second goal of the game from in front on a power play at 3:00 of the third period to make it 3-1, and Pascal Dupuis made it 4-1 1:51 later.

Malkin's two goals made it 6-1, and he set up Petr Sykora for the seventh.

The teams meet again Tuesday night in Newark.