Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists to move into ninth on the NHL’s career scoring list as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 5-3.

The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Edmonton Oilers after Rickard Rakell's two-goal game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Penguins' 4-3 shootout loss.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins had lost seven consecutive games to Edmonton before Thursday evening. They had been outscored in those games, 37-9, and might have been outplayed even more than those numbers suggest.

Thursday night brought us one of the NHL’s more interesting interconference matchups. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers squared off with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sydney Crosby moved up in the NHL record book, and Bryan Rust ignited a four-goal outburst in the first period as Pittsburgh defeated visiting Edmonton 5-3 on Thursday.

The Penguins got the best of the Oilers through sheer hard work and smart defensive strategy — and a little star power from both teams.

Pittsburgh Penguins (17-17-8, in the Metropolitan Division) Pittsburgh; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins host the Edmonton Oilers after Rickard Rakell scored two goals in ...

Crosby then moved past Sakic with an assist on Drew O ... Penguins and Rickard Rakell scored his team-high 21st goal as Pittsburgh won without injured center Evgeni Malkin. McDavid finished ...