abcnews
Sidney Crosby recorded two goals and moved into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL's career scoring list, lifting the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night that halted a four-game skid.
The 39-year-old Crosby broke a tie with Kings legend Marcel Dionne by notching his 1,772nd point when an Evgeni Malkin one-timer deflected in off him during the second period. He later added an empty-net goal, diving face-first onto the ice to tip the puck home.
Tommy Novak scored twice in the first six minutes, and Egor Chinakhov also found the net for Pittsburgh, which moved Crosby and the 40-year-old Malkin onto the top line before the game in an effort to spark a struggling lineup. Sergei Murashov made 26 saves as the Penguins opened a three-game California trip with just their third win in 11 games.
Corey Perry and Alex Laferriere scored for Los Angeles, while Darcy Kuemper stopped only 14 shots. The Kings have now lost two of their last three games during a seven-game homestand.
Novak put Pittsburgh ahead less than two minutes after the opening faceoff, controlling a rebound in front. Less than 3 1/2 minutes later, he carried the puck into the zone, followed behind Ben Kindel, and cashed in another rebound for his seventh career multigoal game.
Perry scored midway through the first when Mikey Anderson's high shot off the end boards ricocheted toward the crease, and he slapped it out of mid-air for the second goal of his 22nd NHL season. Chinakhov scored on a power play late in the first to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead, but Laferriere answered with a power-play goal early in the second.
Artemi Panarin appeared to score a tying rebound goal for Los Angeles late in the second period, but video review determined the Kings' zone entry was barely offside, disallowing the goal. Moments later, Erik Karlsson's backhand pass set up Malkin's shot that deflected in off Crosby.
Key Analysis
Crosby's milestone highlights his enduring excellence, as he continues to climb the NHL's all-time scoring ranks in his 20th season. The Penguins' decision to pair Crosby and Malkin on the top line paid immediate dividends, snapping a four-game slide and providing a much-needed offensive spark. For the Kings, a disallowed goal proved costly in a game where they struggled to generate offense, managing just 14 shots on goal.
The Penguins continue their California trip at Anaheim on Sunday, while the Kings host Nashville on Tuesday.
Originally reported by abcnews.