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Crosby's Goal, Three Assists Lead Pens Past Leafs

Posted: 8:55 pm PDT October 18, 2008

(Sports Network) - Sidney Crosby scored once and added three assists as Pittsburgh used a late charge to hold off Toronto, 4-1, at Mellon Arena.

Pascal Dupuis, Miroslav Satan and Petr Sykora tallied for the Penguins, who have won two of three. Evgeni Malkin chipped in with three helpers.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26-of-27 shots for the win.

Nik Antropov scored the lone goal for the Maple Leafs, who have dropped four consecutive games.

Toronto starting goaltender Curtis Joseph was denied career win number 450, after allowing all four goals on 25 shots.

The Pens got an insurance goal with 7:45 left in regulation. Crosby took a loose puck off the boards to the right of the Leafs net, shoveled the disc back in front, where it deflected off a Toronto defenseman in the crease and bounced into the cage.

Though it was a goal which came about due more to luck than skill, it nonetheless was Crosby's 100th career score.

"I don't expect four (points) a night, but I definitely want to score, Crosby admitted. "I was doing some good things, but the puck wasn't going in. Sometimes you need a lucky bounce like that,and it was definitely welcome."

Sykora tipped home Crosby's cross-ice pass for a power-play goal and 4-1 lead only 1:21 later.

That tally proved important, as Antropov's tip with his skate inside the crease with 4:50 remaining was waved off as a replay determined the goal was scored with an illegal kicking motion.

It was the last good chance a tired Toronto club could muster in the final minutes.

Antropov's second-chance rebound goal on the man advantage put the Leafs up 1-0 with 5:35 left in the opening period. Less than a minute later, Dupuis deposited his second of the season past Joseph to tie the game.

Satan netted a power-play goal with assists from Crosby and Malkin at 7:55 of the second for a 2-1 Pittsburgh lead and Fleury's nine saves made the margin hold up.

"They're pretty high, no question," Joseph said when asked how high he ranked the Crosby-Malkin combo on the list of top NHL players. "They are two great players, exciting players. Unfortunitely Sidney was on tonight,and that kind of sunk us."

Game Notes

The Penguins have won six of the last nine meetings...Six of the game's 10 penalties went to Pittsburgh...The Pens head to Boston on Monday, while the Leafs host Anaheim on Tuesday.

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