Penguins forward Crosby scores first goal of season

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby ended a career-long point drought with a power-play goal in the first period against the Florida Panthers at Consol Energy Center on Tuesday.

Crosby's first goal of the season came in his sixth game. He scored at 11:00 off a pass from Evgeni Malkin to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.

"I thought we generated some chances all night and we could've had more, but it was nice to see that first one go in and hopefully I can build off of this one," Crosby said. "You just try to stick with things and try to do the things you normally do, and trust that it will go in. You try to remind yourself that it's not always easy and it goes a while, but like I said, hopefully I can build off of this and put some more in."

The Penguins won 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Malkin.

Crosby last went five games without a point from Oct. 31-Nov. 10, 2009.

He ended Pittsburgh's power-play drought, and his own, when he scored with Florida's Nick Bjugstad in the penalty box for hooking. Malkin sent a cross-ice pass to Crosby at the bottom of the right faceoff circle, where he put a snap shot through a screen by Chris Kunitz and over Roberto Luongo's right shoulder.

Pittsburgh had been 0-for-17 to start the season. Crosby had an assist on each of the Penguins' other goals.