Sports

Foligno's hat trick lifts Blue Jackets past Penguins 5-3 for franchise-record 9th in a row

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Columbus Blue Jackets' Nick Foligno, right, scores a goal past Pittsburgh Penguins' Marc-Andre Fleury during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

Columbus Blue Jackets' Jack Johnson, top, knocks Pittsburgh Penguins' Brandon Sutter to the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 4, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) (The Associated Press)

Nick Foligno scored three times and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Saturday to set a franchise record with their ninth consecutive win.

It was Foligno's first hat trick in his 541st career NHL game.

Matt Calvert and Scott Hartnell also scored, Brandon Dubinsky assisted on all three of Foligno's goals, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 33 saves as the Blue Jackets won for the 11th time in 13 games.

Sidney Crosby, Brandon Sutter and Ben Lovejoy scored for the Penguins, just 3-7-1 in their last 11 games and still not assured of a playoff berth. Ian Cole had two assists and Marc-Andre Fleury made 29 saves.