Penguins’ Crosby out 6 weeks after core surgery

PITTSBURGH » Penguins star Sidney Crosby will be out at least six weeks after what the team said was a successful core muscle injury repair Thursday.

General manager Jim Rutherford says the procedure was performed by Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia.

The 32-year-old Crosby leads the team in scoring with five goals and 12 assists in 17 games despite dealing with a sports hernia since training camp.

The two-time MVP left a 3-2 shootout win over Chicago on Nov.

9 in the third period. He got tangled up with Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson and moments later took a shot from Gustafsson that smacked off his right foot. LIGHTNING 9, RANGERS 3 » Nikita Kucherov had a goal and three assists, Steven Stamkos scored his

399th career goal and added two assists, and Tampa Bay routed New York.

Tampa Bay’s nine goals tied a team record. Five scores came on the power play, which also matched the franchise mark.

Kucherov had a goal and a pair of assists as Tampa Bay scored four times in the opening seven minutes. Stamkos got his second goal in 10 games on the power play during a four-goal second that made it 8-1.

After Luke Schenn opened the scoring 2:39 into the game, three minutes later Tampa Bay scored three goals in 61 seconds to go up 4-0.

JETS 4, PANTHERS 3 » Mark Scheifele scored late in the third period to lift Winnipeg over Florida.

Adam Lowry, Nikolaj Ehlers and Josh Morrissey also scored for the Jets. Patrik Laine had three assists, including his 200th career point.

Laurent Brossoit stopped 33 shots.