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Crosby, Staal and Hossa score in third to give Penguins 4-1 win over Senators, 3-0 series lead

OTTAWA (AP) -The Pittsburgh Penguins are enjoying their chance to pay back Ottawa for last season’s playoff pounding.

Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal and Marian Hossa scored in the third period to lift Pittsburgh to a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Monday night, and leave the Penguins a victory away from a first-round playoff sweep.

Maxime Talbot scored in the second period and Hossa also had two assists to push his former team to the brink of elimination one year after the Senators beat Pittsburgh in five games on their way to the Stanley Cup finals.

“It was nice to finally get that first goal and have a good game, especially in this building where I basically started my career,” said Hossa, who was acquired from Atlanta at the trading deadline. “But the most important thing is we’re up 3-0. That’s what counts.”