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Evgeni Malkin enters Beast Mode vs. Tampa: Hat trick, 5 points, spectacular goal (Video)

In the third period on Sunday, after the host Tampa Bay Lightning tied the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period, Dominic Moore of the Bolts was seen saying something to Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. Based on what happened next, he apparently said the wrong thing.

Already with two power-play assists on James Neal goals, here's Malkin scoring 48 seconds after Teddy Purcell's game-tying goal:

Vintage Geno power move right there: Unassisted, cutting across the crease, making it look easy.

Then Malkin entered Beast Mode to clinch the 6-3 win for the Penguins and a 5-point day for himself.

Here's Malkin's second goal just 1:49 later, assisted by Brooks Orpik, that's just a little more spectacular than the first.

The year is young, but this is one of 2012's most impressive tallies:

Finally, Malkin competed the hat trick with (ho hum) a perfectly placed empty netter from the red line:

With the 5-point game, Malkin now has 51 point on the season, trailing Henrik Sedin by one for the NHL lead. He jumped over eight players in the scoring race in one afternoon.

He nearly had a Gordie How hat trick to go along with his natural hat trick, according to Pensburgh:

Tensions boiled over. Lecavalier tried to check Malkin. Malkin ducked and avoided it. Lecavalier was displeased. He jawed at Malkin up and down the ice. Malkin gave him a little stick jab, then a shoulder bump into his shadower. His shadower came out swinging.

Before the next faceoff, Lecavalier was given a double minor for roughing and a game misconduct. Malkin was only given a roughing.

Damian Cristodero of the Tampa Times reported: "Lightning's Lecavalier left arena without talking to reporters. Coach Boucher said he believes Lecavalier thought Malkin went for his knees."

Please recall Malkin was suspended for a game in the 2006 Winter Olympics for kicking Lecavalier.