Rust scores hat trick, Penguins top Islanders for third straight victory

PITTSBURGH -- Bryan Rust scored a hat trick to help the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the New York Islanders 6-3 at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Rust has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) during a six-game point streak.
"Obviously, it's a little bit of confidence," Rust said. "Every time you feel confident, it's easier to feel plays. Trying to keep it rolling."
Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Tristan Jarry made 29 saves for the Penguins (22-11-2), who have won three straight games and are 4-0-1 in their past five.
Mathew Barzal had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (22-9-4), who had won three in a row. Ilya Sorokin allowed four goals on nine shots, ending his eight-game winning streak. Semyon Varlamov made 10 saves in relief.
The teams will play here again Monday.
"We weren't good enough. We had too many passengers," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "I didn't see enough from anybody, Ilya included. Ilya and the rest of the team. It just wasn't enough."
The Penguins were held to four shots on goal in the first period but scored on the first two.

Frederick Gaudreau gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 5:48 on a 2-on-1 with Sam Lafferty. It was Gaudreau's first NHL goal since Dec. 31, 2018.
Evan Rodrigues then made it 2-0 with his second goal in three games, a snap shot from the left face-off circle at 10:07.
"The team is winning right now and everyone is chipping in," Lafferty said. "It feels good, and [we're] just trying to get it rolling."
Crosby made it 3-0 with a power-play goal at 4:26 of the second period on a backhand shot that snuck past Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield against the right post.

Rust extended the lead to 4-0 and chased Sorokin with a wrist shot from the left circle on a power play at 6:18 of the second.
The Penguins were 2-for-4 with the man-advantage.
"The power play, I think, has really gained a lot of traction here over the last little while," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "They're scoring goals for us. They've been a difference in a lot of games here. I think their confidence has certainly improved because of that, but they're working hard as a group and they're taking what the game gives them."
Rust scored again to make it 5-0 with a backhand that beat Varlamov at 8:21 of the second.

Barzal skated around Kris Letang for a wrist shot on a short breakaway, cutting it to 5-1 at 10:47 of the second. It ended a 10-game goal drought for Barzal, and it was his first multipoint game since March 6.
"It's nice to score, but it wasn't a game-winner or a game breaker-goal," Barzal said. "It was nice to maybe get a little energy on the bench and pull Pittsburgh's lead] to four. As much as I'm trying to score, I'm trying to play the right way."
Anthony Beauvillier scored for a fourth straight game to make it 5-2 at 5:23 of the third period.
Jordan Eberle cut it to 5-3 on a snap shot at 17:33.
"You're just trying to get one in, and hopefully it snowballs," Eberle said. "That's what we were thinking."
Rust completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 42 seconds left for the 6-3 final. Each player on the Penguins' top line -- Rust, Crosby and Jake Guentzel -- has 14 goals this season.
"They lead the charge," Sullivan said. "I think they set the tone for the attitude of the team when we're going out to play every night. No one is looking for excuses. They all have the expectation that we are going to go out and win hockey games."
NOTES: The Penguins are 5-2-0 against the Islanders this season. … It was Rust's fourth NHL hat trick and first since he scored three goals against the Ottawa Senators on March 3, 2020. … Islanders forward Michael Dal Colle did not play because of a lower-body injury and is also out for the game Monday, Trotz said. Dal Colle was replaced by forward
[Kieffer Bellows
, who had two shots on goal in 11:54 of ice time. … Penguins forward Mark Jankowski did not play after entering the NHL COVID-19 protocol Saturday. … Islanders forward Josh Bailey had one assist in his 900th NHL game. He has scored 496 points (159 goals, 337 assists). … Crosby has scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in six games since center Evgeni Malkin sustained a lower-body injury March 16. Malkin is week to week.