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Pittsburgh Penguins comeback vs Boston Bruins shows depth and heart without Sidney Crosby
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Dejan Kovacevic led with it Monday, Pittsburgh is 32-17-14 after a 5-4 overtime comeback on Boston, and that push came without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
That is the data punch. The Penguins were down 3-0, then ripped off four answers and stole two points.
Crosby is out at least four weeks with the lower-body injury from the Olympics. Malkin is serving a five-game suspension.
So this was not about polish. It was about whether this room still had any fight left.
Egor Chinakhov started the swing on the five-on-three. Anthony Mantha scored twice in the third, and Tommy Novak ended it 17 seconds into overtime.
That is why Kovacevic's point lands. Pittsburgh is flawed, but this group still pushes when a game looks cooked.
"They're far from perfect, but these Penguins have heart."
- Dejan Kovacevic
- Dejan Kovacevic
Boston got a Pavel Zacha hat trick and a gift goal after an Arturs Silovs misplay. The Penguins still found a way out.
Sidney Crosby's Penguins still refuse to fold
You can feel the fan mood here, tired of the holes, but not ready to quit on a team that keeps clawing back.
The hockey reason is simple. Pittsburgh finally attacked inside instead of living on the perimeter.
Dewar's goal cracked the game open. Mantha then got to the middle twice, and that changed the whole pace.
It also matters for Tuesday in Carolina. Pittsburgh just proved its depth can carry a night when the stars are unavailable.
Nobody should confuse heart with a fix. The Penguins still leak mistakes and still miss elite finishing when Crosby and Malkin are gone.
But in March, surviving ugly counts too. This one kept their pulse strong heading into the next test.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 9|147 ANSWERS Pittsburgh Penguins comeback vs Boston Bruins shows depth and heart without Sidney Crosby Does this Pittsburgh Penguins comeback prove Sidney Crosby's team still has enough heart for a real push? | ||
| Yes | 140 | 95.2 % |
| No | 7 | 4.8 % |
| List of polls | ||