Rangers  3    Penguins  8

Recap: Pittsburgh vs. NY Rangers

Sports Network | November 29, 2009

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby's fourth career hat trick to go with two assists stoked Pittsburgh to an 8-3 rout of the New York Rangers in the front end of a home-and-home series at Mellon Arena.

Evgeni Malkin had a goal and one assist for the Penguins, who have won four of five and posted a season-best for goals in a game.

"I thought it was a little weird that everyone had the same hat on the rink," Crosby said of his hat trick, which ironically came on a cap giveaway night at the arena. "It was a fun night to do it, it's always fun to get a hat trick, but especially tonight."

Mark Eaton, Pascal Dupuis, Maxime Talbot and Tyler Kennedy also scored while Marc-Andre Fleury got the win with 22 saves.

Marc Staal, Matt Gilroy and Michal Rozsival tallied for the Rangers, who slid to their fourth loss in six games.

"It's mildly confusing because for stretches of minutes we are dominating down low and then for stretches the tables are turned," Rangers' forward Sean Avery said. "So I'm kind of confused."

Stephen Valiquette was left in for all eight goals on 33 shots in the loss, the second-most scores he's surrendered in his pro career.

Rozsival's first goal of the season pulled New York within 4-3 just 33 seconds into the third period, but the Penguins exploded for four goals while being aided by the undisciplined Rangers' penalties.

Crosby put Pittsburgh up 5-3 at 3:14 when he swept home Malkin's pass, it was a three-goal edge at 7:20 with Dupuis' tally, and Crosby finished off his trifecta at 11:29 on a man advantage.

Kennedy capped the scoring when he deflected home Kris Letang's point blast on a power play 25 seconds later, and, incredibly, the Penguins enjoyed a seven- minute power play over the final 6:14 of the game and failed to score.

Staal gave the Rangers the lead at 8:50 of the first, slipping by a Pens defender at the left circle and sticking a backhander by Fleury.

Malkin tied the game thanks to quick passing from Bill Guerin and Crosby at 14:37, Crosby put the Pens ahead at 17:43 and Talbot capped the surge 46 seconds after for a 3-1 game.

Gilroy's tally with 5:27 to play in the second got the Rangers within one but Eaton responded to restore Pittsburgh's two-goal lead with one second left in the period.

Crosby's career best is six points, done in an 8-4 win against the Flyers on December 13, 2006...Valiquette was rocked for all 10 goals in a 10-2 loss at Dallas on February 6...The clubs meet again on Monday at Madison Square Garden.