The NHL has a new scoring leader: Martin St. Louis.

St. Louis moved into a tie with Sidney Crosby -- who has been out with an injury since March 30th -- with a goal in the first period of Wednesday's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, then jumped out to a two-point lead when he scored twice more in the third to complete his hat trick.

Crosby had been ahead in the scoring race by such a significant margin that it took St. Louis 10 games over 25 days to finally pass him and take the lead.

If St. Louis can hold on to the scoring lead through the end of the season, he would become the oldest player in history to win the Art Ross Trophy. He turns 38 in June.

The Lightning won the game, 5-2.

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