Rodrigues, Rust net hat tricks as Pens hold off Sharks 8-5

By DAN SCIFO
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evan Rodrigues and Bryan Rust both finished off hat tricks in the third period and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 8-5 for their eighth straight win. Rodrigues and Rust each scored twice as the Pens built a 6-1 lead in the first period. Both added insurance goals in the final period, with Rodrigues completing his first career hat trick with 2:01 left and Rust scoring into an empty net with 11 seconds remaining. Rust had a career-best five points. San Jose scored three times in the first 4:09 of the third period but couldn’t overcome the huge deficit.