NHL: Crosby lifts Penguins over Islanders

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Uniondale, N.Y. • Sidney Crosby scored the tying goal in the third period and then won it with a brilliant individual effort 3:44 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Crosby, who tied it with a power-play goal with 12:00 left in regulation, stole the puck from Thomas Vanek just outside the New York blue line, streaked down the middle between two defensemen and jammed a backhander past Anders Nilsson for his 15th goal.

Nilsson was the hard-luck loser in overtime for the second straight game. New York, which has dropped seven straight (0-5-2), gave up the lead late to Washington on Saturday.

Evgeni Malkin assisted on power-play goals by James Neal and Crosby to back Marc-Andre Fleury, who made 21 saves.

Kyle Okposo scored twice in the first period for the Islanders.

The Penguins (19-9-1) moved one point ahead of idle Boston atop the Eastern Conference.