Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jarkko Ruutu registered a career-high three points with a goal and two assists, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the New York Islanders, 3-1, at Mellon Arena.

Georges Laraque posted a goal and an assist for the Penguins, who leapt over idle Montreal for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Evgeni Malkin also lit the lamp, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for his 17th win of the season.

Sidney Crosby returned for the Penguins after missing the previous seven contests and 28 of the last 31 with a high ankle sprain. The Penguins captain recorded three shots in 20:25 of ice time.

Pittsburgh also took a huge step toward earning its first division title since winning the Northeast in 1998 by strengthening its lead in the Atlantic to six points over New Jersey, which lost to the Rangers on Thursday.

Josef Vasicek provided the offense for the Islanders, who have dropped two of their last three games. Wade Dubielewicz allowed three goals on 29 shots in defeat.

"They're a pretty explosive team," said Islanders head coach Ted Nolan. "We made a few mistakes and it cost us."

Pittsburgh opened the scoring at the 6:53 mark of the first period on Malkin's team-leading 45th goal of the season. The Russian superstar emerged from behind the net with the puck and skated to the middle of the right circle, where he snapped a quick wrister between the legs of Dubielewicz.

Vasicek tied the score at one when his backhander from the right circle squeezed between the right arm and torso of Fleury and trickled across the goal line with 3:29 remaining in the first.

While down a man, Ruutu gave the Penguins a 2-1 lead. Off an errant pass by Richard Park, the rugged winger raced down the left wing to collect the loose puck, moved in on Dubielewicz, faked the shot before circling the behind the net and stuffing the disc under the goaltender's left pad with 4:48 left in the second period.

"I thought in the middle of the game, we had some great open looks, and some great opportunities," Crosby said. "If we get those looks consistently, we're going to put the puck in the net."

Laraque gave the Penguins some breathing room in the third period. Ruutu chipped the puck ahead to Laraque streaking the down the slot. Laraque had trouble settling the bouncing puck, but managed to flick it past the blocker of Dubielewicz at the 6:40 mark.