Crosby’s hat trick doesn’t faze Avs

Colorado’s Gabe Landeskog broke a tie midway through the third period and the Avalanche overcame Sidney Crosby’s natural hat trick to beat Pittsburgh 6-3 in Denver on Wednesday night.

Colorado won its sixth straight and is 8-0-1 in its past nine.

Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and an empty-net goal with 29 seconds left, his 18th goal of the season. Samuel Girard, Erik Johnson and Colin Wilson also scored for Colorado, and Mikko Rantanen had two assists.

Crosby erased a 3-0 deficit by himself. He struck twice in the final minute of the second period. His first goal came off his own rebound on a breakaway with 52 seconds to go, and he struck again with 10 seconds left with Colorado defenseman Patrik Nemeth off for holding. Crosby tied it at 4:43 of the second to complete his first hat trick of the season. He has 13 goals.

Landeskog broke the tie with his 15th goal at 10:05 of the third. The Penguins pulled Tristan Jarry for an extra skater, but MacKinnon scored his empty-netter and Carl Soderberg struck 13 seconds later for Colorado.

Girard gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the season at 11:19 of the first period, Johnson scored at 5:13 of the second and Wilson made it 3-0 at 7:52 of the second.

The Penguins challenged Johnson’s goal for goaltender interference but it was upheld upon review.