Penguins: Crosby has 6 points, Malkin notches hat trick
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Penguins forward Sidney Crosby is congratulated by teammates Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko during last night's 6-4 win against the Islanders at Mellon Arena. -
Penguins Sidney Crosby skates up ice. -
Penguins goaltender Brent Johnson stops Islanders forward Kyle Okposo on a penalty shot in the second period. -
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is tripped up by Islanders forward Robbie Schremp.
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The Penguins got six points from Sidney Crosby.
Evgeni Malkin scored three goals.
The power play converted at a 57 percent clip.
Goalie Brent Johnson made more than a few big-time saves.
And it almost wasn't enough.
But after failing to protect several multiple-goal leads, the Penguins got a man-advantage goal from Malkin midway through the third period to break a 4-4 tie and propel them to a 6-4 victory against the New York Islanders last night at Mellon Arena.
When the coaches review the video of this one, they will see some things that make them very happy, and others that will make them break out in a cold sweat.
"There's a lot of positives to take out," Johnson said. "Definitely, there are some things every single one of us in there wants to get better at.
"But the main concern is the two points. We battled back hard after they tied it up."
The victory raised the Penguins' record to 31-19-1 and lifted them to within two points of first-place New Jersey in the Atlantic Division. The Devils, however, have played four fewer games.
The victory came at a fairly high price, however.
Winger Pascal Dupuis was knocked out of the game at 17:05 of the third period, when Islanders defenseman Andy Sutton drove him head-first into the boards behind the Islanders' goal with a hit from behind. Dupuis bled heavily from a cut above his eye before being helped to the locker room.
Sutton, who had been Dupuis' teammate in Atlanta and Minnesota, received a major penalty and game misconduct. The league office will review the play to determine if a suspension is in order.
"Obviously, it wasn't clean," Sutton said. "Pascal was injured. I just hope he's OK. That's about all I can say."
Penguins forward Max Talbot left the game with an undisclosed injury during the second period and did not return. He went off shortly after being tripped from behind by New York goalie Dwayne Roloson.
"We'll see [today] about Max," Bylsma said. "I don't think it's a long-term injury."
That means he should recover faster than the Penguins' power play has. After sputtering for most of the season, it scored on four of seven chances.
First Published January 20, 2010 12:00 am
