Plus/Minus: Hats Off to Mike Rupp

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Monday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Mike Rupp, Pittsburgh Penguins

Entering action on Monday night, Penguins forward Mike Rupp had scored 32 goals in 362 games, never scored more than six goals in a season and never recorded a hat trick. You wouldn't have known it watching him during the Penguins' 5-2 win in New York against the Rangers, as the veteran grinder netted his first career hat trick, giving him eight goals in just 28 games.

Just for laughs, he had nine points in 72 games a season ago.

The win snapped what had been an eight-game regular season losing streak for the Penguins in Madison Square Garden, and completed a home-and-home sweep that included another hat trick from captain Sidney Crosby on Saturday night (he added two more goals and an assist on Monday, giving him eight points in his past two games). The Rangers, meanwhile, have been mired in a major slump since their 7-1 start, posting a 6-12-1 record in their past 19 games.

Rupp saw extended playing time on the third line with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy due to the suspension of forward Matt Cooke, and recorded a season-high 13 minutes of ice-time. He completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal at the 18:20 mark of the third period.

His hat trick wasn't the only one in the NHL on Monday, as Columbus' R.J. Umberger also recorded one for the Blue Jackets in their 5-2 win against the St. Louis Blues.

Minus Of The Day: Keith Ballard, Florida Panthers

OK, we've already discussed this once, but Keith Ballard knocked his own goaltender out of the game after his frustration got the best of him. How can this not be the minus of the night?

As for the rest of the game, Maxim Afinogenov scored the winner, beating backup goalteder Scott Clemmensen with less than six seconds to play in regulation and leading the Thrashers to their fourth straight win. Atlanta finishes November with a 9-3-2 record, and is currently occupying the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference.

Highlight Of The Day: Alex Ovechkin received his second game misconduct in a week, and could be out of the lineup for at least a couple of games whether it be due to an injury or a suspension from the league. His early exit didn't stop the Capitals from earning a 3-2 win in Carolina, as Nicklas Backstrom picked up the slack and scored two goals (to go with an assist). Here's the game-winner.