NHL Recap: Oct 13, 2013

PITTSBURGH 5, TAMPA BAY 4

Oct 12, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his hat trick in the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

It was the Sidney Crosby show in Tampa, as the league’s best player scored a hat trick and then assisted on Matt Niskanen‘s winner with 19 seconds left to lift the Penguins to victory. Niskanen added an assist, while Evgeni Malkin, Jussi Jokinen and Chris Kunitz each had two helpers.  The other Penguins goal came from Brooks Orpik.

Tampa made a valiant effort, but Richard Panik‘s penalty with less than a minute left probably cost them at least a point.  Valtteri Filppula, Steven Stamkos, Alex Killorn and Teddy Purcell scored for the Lightning, with Martin St. Louis and Panik each getting 2 assists.