Letang scores in OT in his 1,200th game to give Penguins 4-3 win against Red Wings

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kris Letang scored 58 seconds into overtime in his 1,200th NHL game and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 on Thursday night.

Sidney Crosby had two goals an and assist to extend his point streak to five games, and Blake Lizotte also scored for the Penguins in their third straight win. Pittsburgh has four wins in its last five games following an eight-game losing streak.

Erik Karlsson had two assists to become the second active and 14th defenseman in NHL history to reach 900 points. Arturs Silovs stopped 24 shots for Pittsburgh.

James van Riemsdyk and Alex DeBrincat had power-play goals for the Red Wings, and Andrew Copp also scored. Cam Talbot made 27 saves for the Red Wings, who had won five of six.

Letang, who became the 40th defenseman in NHL history and third active to reach the 1,200-game milestone, scored the winner on a one-timer from the slot.

Letang got his 13th career overtime goal, tying him with Scott Niedermayer for second-most in NHL history among defenseman — trailing only Brent Burns (16). Letang also has 20 points this season, becoming the 15th defenseman with 18 or more 20-point seasons.

Lizotte briefly put Pittsburgh ahead 3-2 with 4:09 left in the third period, but DeBrincat tied it again 1:11 later with his power-play goal. Detroit finished 2 for 8 with the man advantage.

Crosby scored twice in the first 5:46 to stake the Penguins to an early 2-0 lead. Crosby scored his 127th game-opening goal, tying Gordie Howe for fourth-most in NHL history. It was also his 111th multi-goal game, passing Brendan Shanahan for 19th-place all-time.

Yegor Chinakhov made his debut for Pittsburgh after he was acquired from Columbus for Danton Heinen and two draft picks.

The Penguins and Red Wings play again on Saturday in Detroit.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pittsburgh Penguins' Ben Kindel (81) can't control a loose puck in front of Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) stops a shot by Detroit Red Wings' Alex Debrincat during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Detroit Red Wings' Andrew Copp (18) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) screens Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot as a shot by Sidney Crosby gets past him for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby, left, celebrates his second goal of the first period with Rickard Rakell during an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

TORONTO (AP) — Auston Matthews scored his 14th career hat trick and added an assist to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-5 comeback win against the struggling Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.

Jets goalie Eric Comrie could not freeze a loose puck at the side of his goal and it slid to a wide-open Matthews in front who completed his hat trick and snapped a 5-all deadlock with 4:22 remaining.

Matthews also scored on the power play with two seconds remaining in the second period to pull the Maple Leafs to within 4-3.

Matthews pulled to within one goal of tying Mats Sundin’s franchise record of 420 goals.

It was Toronto's fifth win in its last six games.

Winnipeg squandered a 4-1 lead for its eighth loss in a row. Mark Scheifele scored two goals and set up another to lead the Jets.

After Scheifele put his team ahead 5-4 on the power play, Troy Stecher’s slap shot tied it.

Toronto backup Dennis Hildeby picked up the win with 22 saves after relieving Joseph Woll early in the second period after he allowed four goals on 18 shots.

The Maple Leafs were without William Nylander (lower body) for the third straight game. Dakota Joshua (kidney) and Chris Tanev (lower body) were also absent.

With his second goal, Matthews set a franchise record for goals at home with 232, passing Darryl Sittler’s 44-year-old mark. Matthews has three goals and six points in his last three games.

The Jets have gone 3-13-4 in their last 20 games.

Jets: Visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.

Leafs: Visit the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) makes a save against the Winnipeg Jets during during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby, right, stops Winnipeg Jets' Adam Lowry during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) celebrates his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews (34) and goaltender Dennis Hildeby (35) celebrate after defeating the Winnipeg Jets in an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)