Crosby’s streak at 25 in Pens’ victory

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Sidney Crosby scored twice during a four-point night to extend his scoring streak to 25 games, and the Pittsburgh Penguins won their final home game before the Winter Classic by beating the Atlanta Thrashers 6-3 on Tuesday.

Crosby twice answered Thrashers goals by scoring in the first period, then set up Chris Kunitz’s goal nine seconds into the third period and another by Matt Cooke. Craig Adams also scored short-handed for Pittsburgh, which has won 16 of 19.

Crosby has six goals and four assists in three games against Atlanta this season, including his first natural hat trick during a 3-2 victory in Pittsburgh on Dec. 2.

Crosby, the NHL scoring leader, has 26 goals and 23 assists during his streak and 32 goals and 33 assists for the season. He has at least one goal in five consecutive games.

Wayne Gretzky (1990-91), Bryan Trottier (1981-82), Brett Hull (1991-92) and Bernie Nicholls (1984-85) also had 25 game streaks. The NHL record is Gretzky’s 51-game run in 1983-84, during which he averaged three points per game.