Crosby's scoring tear continues with hat trick vs. Senators

After getting All-Star Weekend to rest up for the stretch run of the NHL season, Sidney Crosby picked up right where he left off after a red-hot January.

The Pittsburgh Penguins captain picked up an assist on a Kris Letang goal in the first period to extend his point streak to eight games, but after his team found itself down 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators in the second, the 28-year-old took over.

Crosby snapped a shot past Craig Anderson on the power play to tie the game at four, giving him a goal in eight consecutive games at the Consol Energy Center.

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

He scored again 10 minutes later off a beautiful saucer pass from Phil Kessel to give his team a 5-4 lead. It's only Crosby's second three-point night of the season, with the first coming in October against the Florida Panthers.

He capped off the ninth hat trick of his career after a Mark Stone giveaway to increase his team's lead to 6-4. It's his first four-point night since recording four assists against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 2, 2015.

With the way Crosby's production has increased each month, this could be a sign of what's to come from the two-time Hart winner.