Senators 3 - 6 Penguins
Final
  for this game

Crosby assists Pens over Sens

Nov 26, 2011 - 4:19 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby had three assists in his third game back and the Pittsburgh Penguins doubled up the Ottawa Senators, 6-3, on Friday.

The Penguins improved to 2-0-1 since their captain returned Monday from the concussion-related symptoms that kept him sidelined since January.

Six different players scored -- Chris Kunitz, Tyler Kennedy, Steve Sullivan, Evgeni Malkin, Pascal Dupuis, Jordan Staal -- and Marc-Andre Fleury made 24 saves in the win.

Kaspars Daugavins, Jared Cowen and Erik Condra had goals for the Senators, who finished 3-2-1 on a six-game road trip. Craig Anderson was pulled after giving up four goals on eight shots, and Alex Auld surrendered two on 31 shots the rest of the way.

The hot-and-cold Senators entered the game 3-0-1 in their last four -- which came on the heels of a five-game losing streak -- but have now dropped two in a row.

Still, Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma sees talent in an Ottawa team that had a six-game winning streak last month.

"The one thing that's clear about this game is they have a really good group of forwards," said Bylsma. "They are supremely talented up front. You saw that. You can see why they've had some success this season."

One of those forwards, Daugavins, scored on a rebound just 79 seconds into the game to give Ottawa the lead. But Pittsburgh rattled off five straight goals after that, an outburst that stretched to early in the second period.

Crosby set up the first goal, faking a slap shot on the right side and sending a pass into the slot for Kunitz, who scored on a one-timer just 27 seconds after Daugavins' goal.

Then, the Penguins poured it on.

Kennedy led an odd-man rush and banked a shot off Anderson from behind the goal, Sullivan scored on a power play and Malkin's seventh goal of the season chased the Ottawa goaltender just 9:11 into the game.

"Against any team in this league, you have to be ready at the start of the game," said Senators coach Paul MacLean. "I think the game was lost in the first five minutes."

Dupuis fired a loose puck past Auld 3:45 into the second period after Arron Asham's shot was blocked in the slot, giving the Penguins a 5-1 lead and control of the game.

Cowen's goal at 15:46 stopped the Pittsburgh run, while Staal scored his 11th of the season in the third period and Condra netted a final tally for the Sens with 3:31 remaining.

Game Notes

Crosby has two goals and five assists since his return...Ottawa went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Penguins were 1-for-5.






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