TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Evgeni Malkin scored a natural hat trick in the third period and assisted on two other Pittsburgh tallies Sunday in the Penguins' 6-3 win over Tampa Bay.
Malkin's five-point game began with assists on two James Neal goals in the first and third periods, which gave Neal 24 tallies for the season and handed the Pens a 3-0 lead.
But the Bolts stormed back with consecutive markers by Matt Gilroy, Ryan Malone and Teddy Purcell -- all within a 5-minute span -- to forge a 3-3 tie.
Malkin quickly responded, netting the go-ahead goal on an unassisted backhander only 48 seconds later. He made it 5-3 with his 20th goal of the season 9:27 into the final frame and finished the hat trick -- the eighth of his career -- with an empty-netter.
Richard Park also scored and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 17-of-20 shots as the Penguins, who won a second straight following a six-game losing streak.
Vincent Lecavalier racked up two assists and Mathieu Garon yielded five goals on 43 shots for the Lightning, who dropped their seventh straight.
