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Malkin nets hat trick as Penguins rally past Islanders

Nov 27, 2008 - 4:24 AM UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) -- Evgeni Malkin tallied twice in 50 seconds and capped the hat trick with an empty-net goal as the Pittsburgh Penguins scored five unanswered goals en route to a 5-3 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Captain Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists and defenseman Brooks Orpik also scored for Pittsburgh, which won for the fifth straight time on the road - and this time by rallying from a 3-0 deficit.

"We don't like to quit," Crosby said. "It shouldn't happen no matter what team you're playing or who you are playing for. Throughout the league this year, teams seem to get a lot of leads, but they are tough to keep. Momentum changes quickly. We have even given up a few leads this year."

Dany Sabourin allowed three goals on 14 shots before being relieved by rookie John Curry, who stopped all 11 shots he faced in his first NHL game.

"I didn't like the third goal," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "(Sabourin's) playing well, but he has a tendency to give up a bad or unlucky goal right now. In this league, that can't happen. The guys had tons of reasons to play well in front of Curry. Your first NHL game, whether you're a forward, defenseman or goalie, you're going to remember the rest of your life."

"I didn't have time to think about it. That makes it a little easier," Curry said of the pressure. "The team responded better than I can ask for. There were a couple of flurries in the beginning, on their power play, but by and large, our team did a great job of keeping the shots on the outside."

Crosby approved of Curry's performance.

"It's not easy coming in cold in those circumstances," he said. "He was poised and did a great job."

Trent Hunter had a goal and an assist, and Doug Weight and captain Bill Guerin also tallied for the Islanders, who fell to 5-2-0 in their last seven contests.

Rookie Josh Bailey and defenseman Mark Streit notched two assists apiece and Joey MacDonald finished with 25 saves for New York.

"We just stopped skating and we never made a pass in the third period," MacDonald said. "We got the puck and the next thing you know, it was coming back in our end."

"It started on our power play. We gave up six scoring chances in the second period and three came on our power play," Islanders coach Scott Gordon said. "We were too casual. No urgency. And they have an aggressive penalty kill."

After the Islanders claimed a three-goal lead, Oprik put the Penguins on the board with 19 seconds remaining in the session, and Crosby scored on the doorstep to halve the deficit just 6:18 into the third period.

Then Malkin stepped up his play by accepting a feed from Crosby and unleashed a blazing wrist shot over MacDonald's left shoulder to tie the game at 3-3.

Malkin completed the comeback just 50 seconds later, teaming again with Crosby. Defenseman Andy Sutton tried to carry the puck from behind the net, but lost possession. Crosby alertly dove and fired a feed to Malkin, who completed the one-timer in the low slot for the go-ahead tally.

"It felt good to come back and get the two points," Malkin said. "We talked after the second period to try and get a quick goal and get more shots on goal. Sidney made two very good passes leading to my goals. You always have to ready when Sidney has the puck."

Malkin capped the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 18 seconds remaining in the contest.