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Crosby, Pens stay hot in 10th straight win

The way Sidney Crosby is producing goals, a two-point game almost is a disappointment. Crosby scored a goal and set up another, and the Pittsburgh Penguins matched the second-longest winning streak in franchise history, winning their 10th in a row by beating the visiting New Jersey Devils, 2-1, last night.

The way Sidney Crosby is producing goals, a two-point game almost is a disappointment.

Crosby scored a goal and set up another, and the Pittsburgh Penguins matched the second-longest winning streak in franchise history, winning their 10th in a row by beating the visiting New Jersey Devils, 2-1, last night.

Marc-Andre Fleury, 11-0-1 in his last 12 starts, made 27 saves as the Penguins equaled a 10-game winning streak from Jan. 28-Feb. 15, 1999. Their only longer streak was an NHL-record, 17-game run from March 9-April 10, 1993, the season they failed to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup title.

"It builds character, and it creates a good atmosphere in our locker room," said Chris Kunitz, who also had a goal and an assist. "Everyone's excited to be at the rink. It's fun to be around when you're winning and having success. Right now, you've got to ride it."

Just like Crosby is. He failed to get a hat trick for the third consecutive home game, but has nine goals in five games and six in three games. He leads the NHL with 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points.

"I don't know if you get to appreciate how really quick he is," Devils goalie Johan Hedberg said. "He was behind both of their goals and probably was the difference."

Crosby broke a 1-all tie in the second period, following up shots from the points by Alex Goligoski and Kunitz. Goligoski's shot deflected to Crosby to the left of Hedberg, and his shot banked off defenseman Colin White's stick and past the goalie.

"I just tried to get off to the side of the net and hoped something bounced over," Crosby said. "Chris tied up his guy in front and the rebound was able to come over there. It made it in there, and I was happy to see it go in."

The Penguins won their sixth in a row at home despite going 0-for-6 on the power play, including a two-man advantage that lasted 34 seconds early in the third period. Pittsburgh started the season 6-7-1, yet now leads the NHL with 40 points.

"It feels a little more relaxed," Fleury said. "Everyone is enjoying it. It was tough at the beginning, so it's nice to get some wins."

In other games:

* At Washington, Mikhail Grabovski scored the lone shootout goal and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from three goals down in the third period to beat the Capitals, 5-4. Jonas Gustavsson was perfect in the tiebreaker, making Grabovski's goal stand up as the winner. Washington carried a 4-1 lead into the third period, but Grabovski, Tim Brent and Clarke MacArthur all had goals to get the Maple Leafs even.

* At Detroit, Logan Couture scored twice, including the go-ahead goal 8 seconds after Niclas Wallin's goal, to lift the San Jose Sharks to a 5-2 win over the Red Wings.

* At Atlanta, Zach Bogosian scored 2:11 into overtime, Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves, and the Thrashers rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Nashville Predators, 3-2.

* At Columbus, rookie Kyle Wilson scored on his first career shootout attempt to help the Blue Jackets end a five-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.