PITTSBURGH, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Sidney Crosby provided all of the Pittsburgh scoring with the seventh hat trick of his career Wednesday, boosting Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win over Atlanta.
The Penguins won their eighth straight game, moving two points in front of Philadelphia for the lead in the Atlantic Division.
Crosby has had a hat trick in each of Pittsburgh's last two home games and he extended his point streak to 14 contests.
His first goal came 7:32 into the opening period and rallied the Penguins into a 1-1 tie. He put Pittsburgh in front with a backhander 4:24 into the second and tipped in a shot 6 minutes later.
Nik Antropov brought Atlanta within a goal with 1:26 to go in the second, but the Thrashers could not get another one past Marc-Andre Fleury.
Crosby has 21 goals for the season, tying him with Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos for most in the NHL.
Fleury made 20 saves in helping the Penguins to their longest winning streak in three seasons. Atlanta had a six-game winning streak snapped.
Ondrej Pavelec took the loss while making 25 saves.
