Mon Jan 14 22:08:11 2008

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Malkin's hat trick helps Pens dump slumping Blueshirts

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Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Evgeni Malkin recorded his second hat trick of the season and of his career as Pittsburgh topped the New York Rangers, 4-1, at Mellon Arena.

Sergei Gonchar also tallied for the Penguins, who have won nine of their last 10 games. Sidney Crosby recorded a pair of assists, pulling him into a tie with Vincent Lecavalier for most points in the NHL with 63.

Ty Conklin made a career-high 43 saves in the victory, improving to 10-0-1 in his first 11 starts with Pittsburgh.

Jaromir Jagr provided the lone goal for the Rangers, who have dropped six of seven. Henrik Lundqvist allowed three goals on 22 shots in the loss.

After sustained offensive pressure for the better part of a period and a half, the Rangers picked up their first goal of the game 9:16 into the third. Scott Gomez took a shot which knocked Conklin on his backside, and Jagr managed to slide the loose puck through the fallen netminder for a power-play goal which brought the visitors within 3-1.

However, Conklin stopped 12 shots over the final 20 minutes and Malkin iced the game and finished off his hat trick on an empty-netter with 23.9 seconds to play.

Pittsburgh notched the game's first goal 3:31 into the contest while on the power play. Malkin took a feed from Crosby along the goal line on the right side, and was allowed to walk in front and stash the puck under the crossbar.

It was 2-0 at 6:33. Crosby found a seam up the slot, and let a shot go which squeezed through Lundqvist's arm. Malkin, trailing the play, was clear to sneak in and slam home the rebound.

Gonchar's power-play blast made it 3-0 with 3:12 left in the period, and Conklin made the three-goal lead hold up in the second as the Rangers outshot Pittsburgh, 17-2.

Game Notes

Malkin also struck for three goals in a 6-2 win over Toronto on January 3...The Rangers had won four of the last six meetings, including three of four this season, coming into Monday...Pens forward Erik Christensen did not play, since he was in British Columbia due to the death of his grandfather...New York played without veteran forward Brendan Shanahan for the second straight game while he heals from a knee injury suffered last week...There were 19 penalties in the contest, 10 to Pittsburgh...The Rangers finished 1-for-6 on the man advantage, while the Penguins converted 2-of-5 chances.