Penguins 6, Senators 5

A quick look at the Penguins’ 6-5 victory against Ottawa Tuesday night at Consol Energy Center:

*** The Penguins got the kind of strong start they have been craving, scoring two goals before Ottawa managed a shot on goal, but still had to overcome a 4-3 deficit to extend their winning streak to four games.

*** Center Sidney Crosby scored the Penguins’ fourth, fifth and sixth goals to record a natural hat trick. It was his ninth career hat trick. “He’s been a dominant factor for a while,” linemate Chris Kunitz said. “It’s nice to see when the puck’s going in for other guys, too, but when he gets the confidence going, it makes other guys on the ice feel better.”

*** Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had his worst showing of the season, stopping just 18 of 23 shots. He did not face a shot for the first 11 ½ minutes of play, but downplayed the impact of that on his performance. “It was even tougher standing there for 60 minutes and getting lit up,” he said.

*** The Penguins improved their record to 25-17-7 and pulled to within two points of the second-place New York Rangers in the Metropolitan Division. They hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and are one point behind the third-place New York Islanders in the Metropolitan.

*** Crosby, on the Penguins’ offense compensating for Fleury’s off-night: “He’s bailed us out so many times. It’s nice that we gave up five and we’re still able to win a game.”

*** This is the first time this season the Penguins have scored six goals.

*** Sullivan said he opted against pulling Fleury because “I like guys to have an opportunity to battle through it.”

*** Penguins forward Eric Fehr left the game after absorbing a hit from Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki midway through the second period. Sullivan said he was being examined after the game.

*** Crosby, on recording his first hat trick since Oct. 12, 2013: “It’s nice. There are nights when you feel like you have a ton of chances and it doesn’t go in. To get them in bunches is nice, especially in a game like this where it’s high-scoring and, like I said, you pretty much know the last goal is going to win it.”

*** Kunitz, on the Penguins allowing a 2-0 lead to morph into a 4-3 deficit: “I don’t understand how we had such a lull after a good start. Maybe it was just ourselves thinking it was going to be an easy game after that. To their credit, they came back.”

*** The Penguins are 7-0-2 in their past nine home games.

*** Right winger Patric Hornqvist, on the Penguins’ strong start: “I think our first period was probably the best since [Sullivan] took over.”

*** The Penguins are 9-0-3 in their past 12 games against Eastern Conference opponents.

*** Penguins winger Carl Hagelin had an assist to stretch his scoring streak to five games, tying his career high.

*** Crosby, on participating in a game in which 11 goals are scored: “I think it’s fun. You don’t play that many of them. You have to embrace it. If you’re complaining, or not happy with the way it’s going you’re more likely not to embrace it.”

*** The Penguins have scored first in nine of their past 11 games against the Senators.

*** Fleury, on maintaining his composure on a night when he was leaking in more goals that usual: “I didn’t break my stick, so that was a step forward from before, I guess.”