Wednesday’s 5-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens probably won’t help Penguins coach Mike Sullivan sleep better at night.
There were still some defensive miscues, some penalties the Penguins probably shouldn’t have taken and a few goals they’d like to have back, but Sullivan and Co. can worry about that stuff another day.
The performance was good enough. Most important, it helped them avoid the disaster that would’ve been a two-game losing streak — and four losses in six outings — at such a crucial time of the year, in an airtight playoff race.
The Penguins got goals when they needed them the most, including an absolutely gorgeous one from Sidney Crosby, and they bounced back from a lackluster performance in Brooklyn 24 hours earlier.