PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby made the Penguins' cap night giveaway at Mellon Arena an appropriate one.

Crosby had his fourth career hat trick and added two assists for his second five-point game and the Pittsburgh Penguins won for the fourth time in five games, 8-3 over the New York Rangers on Saturday night.

"It's always fun to get the hat trick, but especially tonight it was a lot of fun," said Crosby, who fell a point short of his career high for points. "It was pretty weird the way it worked out, but what better time to do it?"

Crosby scored once in the first and twice in the third period and added two-first period assists to help the Penguins rout the Rangers, winless in regulation at Mellon Arena in their past 13 tries.

"When I walked into the building and saw the free hats, the thought did cross my mind that hopefully somebody would get a hat trick to see those things on the ice," Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said.

Evgeni Malkin, Max Talbot, Mark Eaton, Pascal Dupuis and Tyler Kennedy also scored for Pittsburgh, which has won six of eight.