Hat Trick

WASHINGTON - Three goals from Alex Ovechkin. Two feet of snow on the ground. One big comeback against a detested rival, with punches and name-calling added for good measure. The biggest number of all: 14, the length of a winning streak topped by just two other teams in NHL history. What a Super Sunday it was for the Washington Capitals, who got a hat trick from their two-time reigning league MVP and made up a three-goal deficit to beat Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-4, in overtime.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault confirmed that goalie Roberto Luongo wants out of Vancouver. Speaking Thursday by telephone on the Montreal-based French language television show "Le Match," Vigneault was asked if Luongo, who was replaced by Marblehead's Cory Schneider during the Canucks' loss to the Kings in the first round of the playoffs, needed a fresh start. "First of all, that is what he wants right now," said the coach, who recently signed a two-year contract extension.

Suddenly, and a bit surprisingly, the scoring looks a little easier. For the second time in as many games, the Bruins last night rattled off five goals, including rookie winger Blake Wheeler's first career hat trick, on their way to pinning a 5-2 loss on the Maple Leafs and shimmying in a little tighter among the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. Two games. Ten goals. Unheard of, no? In fact, the Bruins (7-3-3) put together a pair of five-spots late last season, with back-to-back wins over twin tomato cans Florida and Tampa Bay. But with Saturday's 5-1 win over a reputable Dallas squad, followed by last...

Hockey Russia and Slovakia will meet in the World Championship final Sunday in Helsinki for the first time since the Slovaks won their only title a decade ago against the Russians. After Evgeni Malkin scored a hat trick to lead Russia to a 6-2 rout of host Finland, Slovak forward Miroslav Satan scored twice to help beat the Czech Republic, 3-1, in the second semifinal. Malkin, the NHL regular-season scoring king for the Penguins, scored twice in the first period against defending champ Finland and completed the hat trick in the second period . . . Flyers All-Star forward Claude Giroux ...

Johan Franzen outscored the Colorado Avalanche by himself. Franzen's second hat trick in three games fueled the visiting Detroit Red Wings' 8-2 rout last night that completed a sweep of the injury-riddled Avalanche. Franzen's nine goals in the series matched Colorado's total, and his three goals in Game 4 made him the first player with two hat tricks in one series since Jari Kurri did it for Edmonton in 1985. He also bested Gordie Howe, the Hall of Famer who set the franchise record of eight goals in one series (seven games)

TAMPA – David Krejci wanted to wrap up the Eastern Conference finals in Game 6 last night, but he’ll get another shot tomorrow night on his home ice. Krejci registered the Bruins’ first postseason hat trick since Cam Neely accomplished the feat in 1991 against the Canadiens, but his performance wasn’t enough as the Lightning prevailed, 5-4, to force Game 7. Krejci was in no mood to celebrate, preferring to put last night behind him...

Jonathan Cheechoo scored three goals, Milan Michalek had one and set up two others, and Joe Thornton had three assists in the San Jose Sharks' 5-1 victory last night that ended the Atlanta Thrashers' franchise-record, home-winning streak at seven. San Jose, which has won seven of eight, also got a goal from Bill Guerin, his 34th, for a 4-1 lead that ended the night for beleaguered goalie Kari Lehtonen with 5:31 remaining in the second period. San Jose peppered him with 23 shots.

James van Riemsdyk scored his second goal of the game on a power play 14:27 into the third period and the Philadelphia Flyers extended their winning streak to four with a 5-3 victory over the Canadiens in Montreal last night. Carey Price made the initial save on the play that led to van Riemsdyk’s goal that gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead. Canadiens defenseman Roman Hamrlik’s clearing attempt put the puck right on the Philadelphia forward’s stick for an easy tally. Claude Giroux made it a two-goal lead with his 16th goal at 15:28.

Good things come in threes for Rachel Blauner. The East Bridgewater standout notched a hat trick for the third straight game in a 6-2 win over host Mashpee yesterday. The senior captain, who has committed to Boston University, has 79 career goals with a shot at 100, a feat no East Bridgewater girls' soccer player has achieved. "She puts pressure on herself but doesn't go out of her way to score and when she can, she always makes the pass," said Vikings coach Pam Ross. Blauner opened the scoring in the first three minutes, converting a feed from Mackenzie Kingman.

Sidney Crosby had his first career hat trick at Mellon Arena and added an assist, and the Penguins snapped the New Jersey Devils' five-game winning streak with a 4-1 victory last night in Pittsburgh. Crosby, who has six goals in his past three games to give him a team-high 13 for the season, scored twice Friday night at Buffalo. He posted consecutive multiple-goal games for the first time in his career. Petr Sykora also scored and Dany Sabourin made 29 saves for Pittsburgh, which completed a 9-2-1 November.

Players of the week Nick Baxter/Tate Jozokos, Governor's Academy - Baxter, a senior goalie, made nine saves while Jozokos, a junior midfielder, scored twice as Governor's beat St. Sebastian's, 4-3, in a battle of undefeated ISL squads. Seamus Connelly, Duxbury - The Duke-bound senior notched a hat trick as the Dragons knocked off Wellesley, 9-3, and extended their in-state winning streak to 30 games dating to 2010. Kevin Delehey, Concord-Carlisle - The senior jump-started the Patriots with 10 faceoff wins, two goals, and an assist as they cruised past Weston, 8-3, to win their...

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick Saturday to help Bundesliga champion Borussia Dortmund beat Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup final. This was the first time Dortmund has won the league and Cup in the same season. It was Dortmund's fifth consecutive win over Bayern, which plays in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Munich next Saturday. Japan's Shinji Kagawa opened the scoring in the third minute before Arjen Robben tied it for Bayern on a penalty kick in the 25th minute.

After missing the Boston Cannons' season opener because he was late getting back from his college coaching duties, it took Matt Poskay all of 16 seconds to score his first goal of the 2012 Major League Lacrosse season. The Cannons' all-time leading scorer finished with a game-high five goals Saturday night as Boston forced the expansion Charlotte Hounds to wait another week for their first win. The 20-12 victory came before 9,273 at Harvard Stadium. "It was good to get back out there," said Poskay, who led the Cannons with 30 goals last season.

By Seth Lakso, Globe correspondent After missing the Boston Cannons' season opener because he was late getting back from his college coaching duties, it took Matt Poskay all of 16 seconds to score his first goal of the 2012 Major League Lacrosse season. The Cannons' all-time leading scorer finished with a game-high five goals, as Boston forced the expansion Charlotte Hounds to wait another week for their first win, with a 20-12 victory in front of 9,273 at Harvard Stadium on Saturday.

Steven Stamkos scored his 60th goal of the season and Teddy Purcell had a hat trick — including the overtime winner — and the Tampa Bay Lightning ended their season with a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Fans recognized Stamkos' feat and gave him a standing ovation after Martin St. Louis sent a pass to the front of the net and Stamkos fired it over Ondrej Pavelec's glove at 3:29 of the third period. Only Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has reached the 60-goal mark since 1996.

R.J. Umberger scored twice, rookie goalie Allen York made it three wins in three career starts and the Columbus Blue Jackets made St. Louis need some help to clinch the Central division, knocking off the Blues 5-2 on Saturday night. Jared Boll, Derek Dorset and Vinny Prospal also scored for Columbus, and York finished with 34 saves. David Backes and David Perron scored for the Blues, who wrapped up their first title since 1999-2000 when Chicago beat Nashville 5-4 not long before the final horn in St. Louis.

In the new NHL, no lead is safe. Truth be told, even in the old NHL, the 1-0 lead the Bruins were nursing in the second period last night wouldn't have offered much comfort. But what happened to the Bruins late in the second period, on home ice, in front of their few fans (13,014), was an embarrassment bordering on the absurd and surreal. Veteran winger Ray Whitney, frequently a free agent in his career but never showing up on the Boston shopping list, slammed home three goals in a span of only 1 minute 40 seconds, a natural hat trick that provided the springboard to a 5-2 thumping of the Bruins.

PITTSBURGH - Evgeni Malkin scored three goals for the second time in 11 games, and Ty Conklin stopped 43 shots to remain unbeaten in regulation as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers, 4-1, last night. Sidney Crosby had two assists and Sergei Gonchar also scored for the Penguins, who are 9-0-1 in their past 10 and have won six in a row at home. Conklin, who has started the past 10 games, improved to 10-0-1. Jaromir Jagr scored his 13th goal for New York, which has lost six of seven and four in a row on the road.

Ilya Kovalchuk and Marek Zidlicky scored in a 1:11 span to cap a four-goal second period and the New Jersey Devils put themselves on the doorstep of a playoff berth with a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Dainius Zubrus, Jacob Josefson, Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson also scored as New Jersey matched its season high for goals in posting its second straight victory and overcoming a hat trick by Ryan Malone of Tampa Bay. The Devils can return to the playoff for the 14th time in 15 seasons by earning one more point in their final four games or...

High Five Trevor Cimino, Burlington: In a 6-2 rout of Milton in the Division 1 state championship game, the senior forward netted his team-leading 46th point of the season, an unassisted goal in the third period. Brendan Collier, Malden Catholic: The Boston University-bound senior captain scored the first goal of the game as the Lancers repeated as Super 8 champs, defeating Boston College High, 3-1. Derek DeCastro, Burlington: With 27 saves, the junior netminder backstopped the Red Devils to their first Division 1 state title, 6-2, over Milton.