PITTSBURGH_The Penguins came into Monday night's game against the Washington Capitals intent on playing better defensively and snapping a three-game losing streak.
The losing streak is over. Maybe they can try the defense thing another day.
After spotting the Capitals a three-goal lead, the Penguins scored six of the nine goals in a wild second period and left PPG Paints Arena with a 8-7 overtime victory.
Conor Sheary whacked in a rebound 34 seconds into the extra session for his second goal of the game to win it. He added an assist with a nifty setup earlier.
The victory helped the Penguins improve to 19-2-2 at home this season, as they snapped the Capitals' nine-game winning streak.
Evgeni Malkin recorded the 11th hat trick of his career and his first since Jan. 23, 2016, against the Canucks.
Sidney Crosby produced a goal and two assists, snapping a five-game stretch without a goal, while defensemen Justin Schultz and Trevor Daley had three assists apiece.
Washington built a 2-0 edge after the first period on goals by Andre Burakovsky and Nicklas Backstrom before the Penguins scored six goals in the second to take a 6-5 lead entering the final period.
It was the first time the Penguins scored six goals in a period since March 21, 2000, at the New York Islanders.
Justin Williams scored at 1:17 of the second period to help the Capitals stretch their lead to 3-0 before the Penguins' offense revved into gear, helped along by some energy from Patric Hornqvist.
Hornqvist hit T.J. Oshie _ it was quite possibly high and illegal, but not penalized _ and tangled with Daniel Winnik. The Penguins responded with five goals in 8:09.
Malkin got the first and the fifth, with Conor Sheary, Nick Bonino and Bryan Rust scoring the middle three. The hat trick-completing goal came on the power play at 17:19, bumping Malkin's total to 21 on the season.
Malkin's first goal was a snipe from one knee, his second a quick poke after Jake Guentzel's centering pass hit a stick, and his third a deflection in front that withstood a challenge from Capitals coach Barry Trotz.
Fans, apparently still trying to make sense of the scoring summary, were late tossing hats onto the ice.
The score was 5-3 following Malkin's second goal when Trotz lifted Braden Holtby for Philipp Grubauer.
The Capitals had allowed three goals in their previous 19 periods before giving up twice that many in 20 minutes.
Malkin's first goal came four-on-four, and it snapped a shutout streak for Washington that totaled 149:04. It was the first even-strength goal the Capitals had allowed since Jan. 3, a span of 395:42.
Crosby picked up his 27th of the season at 5:55 of the third period off a gorgeous feed from Conor Sheary to increase the Penguins' lead to 7-5.
T.J. Oshie scored on the power play at 9:29 of the third and Lars Eller got his second of the night when his shot deflected off Trevor Daley's skate and in to tie the score at 7 at 14:38.
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