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Malkin's hat trick lifts Penguins over Thrashers

Nov 14, 2010 - 4:22 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Evgeni Malkin notched the sixth hat trick of his career to help the Pittsburgh Penguins take a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

Malkin added an assist while Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists for the Penguins, who have won consecutive games for the first time since a four-game winning streak in the middle of October. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 31 shots in the win.

"Everyone played great tonight," said Ramsay. "This was my first power play goal of the season and I hope it's not my last. We moved the puck well tonight and it paid off."

Brent Sopel and Niclas Bergfors each had a goal for the Thrashers, who have dropped four of five. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24-of-27 shots in the loss.

"I'm just very frustrated after that because I thought we played really hard," said Atlanta head coach Craig Ramsay. "We gave them all that we could give them. We created our chances and we just gave up a couple of bad goals."

With the score tied in the third period, the Pens took a 2-1 lead 2:41 in as Dave Engelland's shot from the left point was redirected past Pavelec by Crosby in front for his 12th goal of the season.

Pittsburgh then took a 3-1 lead two minutes later on the power play thanks to Malkin's second of the game and sixth of the campaign.

The Thrashers cut it to a one-goal game with 9:15 left as Evander Kane centered the puck from behind the net and Bergfors redirected it past Fleury.

Malkin, though, sealed the win and capped the hat trick with just over a minute to play as he put the puck into the empty net.

Atlanta got a goal from Sopel, his first of the season, at the 2:41 mark of the first to give the Thrashers a 1-0 lead.

Pittsburgh tied the game in the second as Malkin slipped a low shot from the right circle through the pads of Pavelec with 6:38 to play in the second.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh hosts the Rangers on Monday...Atlanta plays in Washington on Sunday...The Penguins took three of four from the Thrashers last season...Atlanta forward Bryan Little returned to play after missing the past six games with a concussion...Pittsburgh went 1-for-5 on the power play while Atlanta was 0-for-5.