Crosby, Christensen lead surging Pens over Canadiens

Mar 17, 2007, 3:35 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA - Sidney Crosby and Erik Christensen scored two goals apiece as Pittsburgh topped Montreal, 6-3, at Mellon Arena.

Mark Recchi and Evgeni Malkin posted a pair of assists each for the Penguins, who have won four straight and six of seven. Michel Ouellet had a goal and one assist, and Gary Roberts also lit the lamp.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 25 shots to earn his 34th win of the season.

Sheldon Souray and Andrei Markov posted a goal and an assist each for the Canadiens, who have dropped five of their last seven games. Michael Ryder picked up a pair of assists, and Chris Higgins also scored in a losing cause.

David Aebischer gave up five goals on 30 shots.

After relaxing in the second period and letting Montreal tie the game, the Pens snapped to attention and blitzed the Canadiens with a four-goal final stanza.

Christensen netted his second of the night at 3:40, then 40 seconds later Roberts cashed in for his third tally in a Penguins uniform and it was 4-2 for the home team.

However, Markov made it a 4-3 contest one minute, 20 seconds later with Montreal's third power-play goal of the game.

Ouellet came back with some insurance at 13:47 with a nice assist from Malkin, then Crosby added his 31st of the season into the empty net with 65 seconds to play.

The win vaults Pittsburgh once again over Ottawa into fourth spot in the Eastern Conference with 90 points, one better than the idle Senators.

The Pens opened up a two-goal lead in the first period, thanks to goals by Crosby at 4:28, and Christensen with 26 seconds remaining.

Montreal came right back in the second, though, with a pair of power-play goals to draw even.

Higgins pulled the Habs within 2-1 at 3:33, then Souray added his 24th goal of the season -- an NHL-best for defensemen -- at 16:06 and the visitors went to the third in a 2-2 deadlock.

Game Notes

Both teams won two games in the season series...Pittsburgh has taken five of the eight games between the clubs since the start of the 2005-2006 season...Montreal was 3-of-6 with the man advantage, and Pittsburgh did not score on its one chance...The Penguins host Ottawa on Sunday, while the Canadiens host Toronto on Saturday.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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