VIDEO: Evgeni Malkin Does His Best Mario Lemieux Impression

The PIttsburgh Penguins blew out the Tampa Bay Lightning 8-1 on Saturday afternoon, thanks in part to a hat trick by Evgeni Malkin. Not only did Malkin pick up a hat trick, but he had this nice unassisted goal to push the Penguins lead to 6-1 early in the third period. Malkin just cut right through the entire Lightning team, doing his best Mario Lemieux impression.

This was Malkin's second of eventual three goals in the game, his final goal coming on a Penguins power play in the middle of the final period. Announcer Bob Errey pointed at, the goal was reminiscent of Mario Lemieux's in Game 2 of the 1992 Stanley Cup Final against the Minnesota North Stars (now the Dallas Stars).

For all news and information regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins, please visit PensBurgh, or check out SB Nation Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Raw Charge has everything on the Tampa Bay Lightning. For all your hockey new and notes, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

Penguins Vs. Lightning: Evgeni Malkin Records Hat Trick As Pittsburgh Cruises, 8-1

The Penguins lit the lamp early and often on Saturday against the Lighting at the Consol Energy Center, and that was before Evgeni Malkin even got started on the ninth hat trick of his career in Pittsburgh's 8-1 victory.

Chris Kunitz, Matt Cooke and Jordan Staal all scored goals in the first period to get the Penguins off to a hot start after one. Another Staal goal midway through the second period gave Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead before Malkin ripped off three straight goals of his own to ice the victory for Pittsburgh.

Pascal Dupuis scored late in the game to finish the scoring barrage.

Malkin finished the day with four points total as he picked up an assist on Kunitz's goal. The performance earns him a four-point advantage in the NHL scoring race despite entering the day in a tie with Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos at 73 points each.

The Penguins return to the ice on Sunday when they host Columbus for another 1 p.m. faceoff at Consol.

For all the latest on the Penguins, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Lightning Vs. Penguins Score Update: Pittsburgh Nets 3 Goals In First Period

The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed in the Tamp Bay Lightning for a Saturday afternoon game of hockey. The game quickly went south for the Lightning however, as they found themselves down to the Penguins 3-0 after the first period of play. Chris Kunitz struck first for Pittsburgh, picking up his 17th goal of the season, assisted by Evgeni Malkin and James Neal.

Pittsburgh didn't let up after the early lead, as Matt Cooke picked up another goal just 50 seconds later to take a 2-0 lead. Even when the Lightning had the upper hand with a power play, the Penguins were still able to strike as Jordan Staal picked up his 20th goal of the season to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead with a shorthanded goal.

For all news and information regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins, please visit PensBurgh, or check out SB Nation Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Raw Charge has everything on the Tampa Bay Lightning. For all your hockey new and notes, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

Lightning Vs. Penguins: Top Two Scorers In NHL Meet When Pittsburgh Hosts Tampa Bay

The NHL's top two scorers will meet Saturday afternoon when Evgeni Malkin's Pittsburgh Penguins (34-21-5, 73 pts) welcome Steven Stamkos' Tampa Bay Lightning (27-27-6, 60 pts) to the CONSOL Energy Center.