Crosby’s hat trick powers Penguins

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Sidney Crosby scored three straight goals for his first natural hat trick in more than five years, and the Pittsburgh Penguins opened the second half of the season with a 6-5 win over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

The two-time NHL MVP pushed his goal total to 20 and has scored at least one in Pittsburgh’s last eight home games. The Penguins have won four straight and lost in regulation just once since Jan. 6.

Chris Kunitz had a goal and two assists. Kris Letang added a goal and an assist, and Matt Cullen also scored for Pittsburgh. The Penguins’ six goals were a season high. Marc-Andre Fleury settled down after a shaky start and finished with 18 saves.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Stone, Cody Ceci, Chris Wideman and Dave Dziurzynski scored for the Senators. Craig Anderson made 38 stops.

The Penguins began the second half stressing the need to play with the intensity that carried them through a resurgent January, when they went 6-2-3 to move back into playoff position. They were fueled by a streaking Crosby, who has taken new coach Mike Sullivan’s advice to get to the front of the net.

Crosby tied for the NHL lead with eight goals in January and wasted little time getting back to work following an All-Star snub, one he likely deserved after a sluggish opening three months of the season. His three scores against the Senators came from close range, including a pair from right on the doorstep.

The hat trick was the ninth of Crosby’s career and first since Oct. 12, 2013, against Tampa Bay. It was his first natural hat trick since doing it against the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 2, 2010.