Penguins score seven seconds into game, rout Lightning, 8-1

PITTSBURGH — Chris Kunitz scored three goals, Evgeni Malkin got Pittsburgh going with a goal seven seconds into the game and the Penguins, playing for the first time since the Winter Classic, beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 8-1, on Wednesday night.

Alex Goligoski added a goal and set up three others and Kris Letang had three assists to help the Penguins end a two-game losing streak.

Pittsburgh scored four times on its first eight shots while opening a 5-0 lead in the first against the Lightning. Tampa Bay was 9-1-1 in its previous 11 after beating Washington, 1-0, in overtime Tuesday night.

Despite all the goals, it was a quiet night for NHL scoring leaders Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos. Crosby had an assist for the only point between them.

Crosby, shut out in his previous two games following a 25-game scoreless streak, has 66 points in 41 games as Pittsburgh is 26-12-3 midway through its season.

Stamkos, who has 56 points, was awarded a penalty shot early in the second period, but slipped in the left circle as he skated toward the net and didn’t get a shot off. That play perfectly illustrated a game that got away from the Lightning almost as soon as it started.

Malkin, who scored Pittsburgh’s only goal in its 3-1 outdoor game loss to Washington on Saturday night, grabbed the puck after the Lightning’s Sean Bergenheim couldn’t control it following Vincent Lecavalier’s faceoff win to start the game. Malkin then beat goalie Dwayne Roloson with a bad-angle shot from along the goal line.

The Penguins’ record for fastest goal to start a game is six seconds by Jean Pronovost in 1976.

Roloson, who shut out Washington in his first game for Tampa Bay after being picked up from the Islanders last weekend, gave up five goals on 23 shots while being pulled twice. Dan Ellis gave up the other three goals.