Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 3: James Neal recorded his fourth career hat trick en route to his first five-point performance as visiting Pittsburgh defeated Columbus for the fourth time this season.

Captain Sidney Crosby added to his league scoring lead with a goal and two assists while Chris Kunitz contributed the same for the Penguins, who improved to 14-4-0 against Metropolitan Division opponents. Jeff Zatkoff made 25 saves in his first start in four contests, improving to 7-2-0.

Brandon Dubinsky, Corey Tropp and defenseman Nikita Nikitin tallied for the Blue Jackets, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Curtis McElhinney stopped 25 shots.

Crosby slipped behind the Blue Jackets' defense to finish a give-and-go with Kunitz 10:51 into the third period to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. The superstar then found Kunitz for a one-timer from the slot on a power play 2:07 later and Neal completed his hat trick on another power play with 2:27 remaining.

Dubinsky opened the scoring 3:59 into the game but Neal tied it with the man advantage 56 seconds later and gave Pittsburgh its first lead 8:34 into the second period. Tropp made a nifty move to get around Penguins rookie defenseman Olli Maatta and forced a forehand deke under Zatkoff’s left pad to knot the contest at 2-2 with 6:18 remaining in the period.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Neal has eight points (four goals, four assists) in two games since the holiday break. … Pittsburgh finished 3-for-6 with the man-advantage. … The Penguins and Blue Jackets will meet for a fifth and final time on March 28 in Columbus.