Rust scores hat trick, Rakell has 4 points for the Penguins in win over Canadiens

Rust scored three goals and one assist, Rakell had two goals and two assists and Sidney Crosby had three assists, giving Pittsburgh’s top team a combined 11 points.

“They feel good, but of course in the end it’s just one game,” said Rust about the one-sided result. “But it’s nice for everyone’s confidence to see how many pucks are going into the net.”

Kris Letang had a goal and an assist, Matt Grzelcyk had two assists and Tristan Jarry made 21 saves for the Penguins (13-14-4), who have won six of their last eight games.

“I think as a team you still have to develop all the different things that come with winning and consistency,” Crosby said. “And that’s what we’ve been doing lately, and we’ve been building on that. So this is something that needs to continue. It’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight, but we give ourselves a chance and it’s a lot more fun when it does.”

Nick Suzuki and Joel Armia scored for Montreal (11-15-3), allowing six goals in the third period.

“I’m still trying to think about what just happened,” Suzuki said. “I don’t know who it was out there and we were embarrassed.”

Sam Montembeault allowed six goals on 26 shots before being replaced at 8:41 of the third period by Cayden Primeau, who allowed three goals on seven shots in relief.

“I think every game counts in this league,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “There is not a single action on the ice that cannot influence the outcome of the game, and those actions escaped us in the third moment.”

Suzuki gave the Canadiens a 1-0 lead at 2:12 of the first period. He went forehand and backhand around Jarry and completed a 2-on-1 rush with Cole Caufield, who moved the puck into the offensive zone after deflecting Letang’s cross-ice pass inside the Montreal blue line.

Rakell tied the game at 1-1 with a power play goal at 4:18. He redirected Letang’s centering pass from the left corner under Montembeault’s left pad from the edge of the goal area.