Malkin’s hat trick leads Penguins

ATLANTA (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored three times, Sidney Crosby added a goal and two assists and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-2 Saturday night for their second straight victory.

Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury won his second consecutive start, improving to 3-6-0 after stopping 34 shots.

Malkin and Crosby added to their career dominance of Atlanta. Crosby has 28 points, including eight goals, in 19 games against the Thrashers. Malkin has 27 points, including nine goals, in 17 games.

After his fifth goal tied it 1-all 13:22 into the second period, Malkin made it 3-1 on the power play by tapping in his own rebound with 15:18 left.

Malkin’s seventh goal was an empty-netter.

Crosby put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1 by redirecting a shot by Deryk Engelland for his 12th goal.

Full story appears in Sunday’s edition of The Vindicator.