Penguins Overcome 3-Goal Deficit to Beat Bruins in OT

Tommy Novak's overtime goal lifts Pittsburgh to crucial victory over division rival

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Boston Bruins 5-4 in overtime on Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena. Tommy Novak scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds into the extra period to complete the comeback and snap a four-game losing streak for the Penguins.

Why it matters

The win was crucial for the Penguins, who are battling for a playoff spot in the tight Metropolitan Division. With Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin out, the team needed this victory before embarking on a difficult five-game road trip against other top contenders.

The details

The Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the game, including a hat trick from Pavel Zacha. But the Penguins refused to quit, getting goals from Kirill Chinakhov, Anthony Mantha, and Connor Dewar to tie the game in the third period. In overtime, Chinakhov's hustle and forechecking forced a turnover, and Novak was able to capitalize on the open net for the game-winner.

  • The game-winning goal was scored 17 seconds into overtime on Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Tommy Novak

The Penguins forward scored the game-winning goal in overtime to complete the comeback.

Kirill Chinakhov

The Penguins forward had a key turnover in overtime that led to the winning goal, and also scored a power play goal in the second period to get Pittsburgh on the board.

Anthony Mantha

The Penguins forward scored two goals in the third period to tie the game and force overtime.

Pavel Zacha

The Bruins forward recorded a hat trick to give Boston an early 3-0 lead.

Erik Karlsson

The Penguins defenseman had an assist on the overtime game-winner and was praised for his strong overall performance.

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What they’re saying

“We needed this. No question, we needed this one.”

— Noel Acciari, Penguins forward (dkpittsburghsports.com)

“A lot. We gave ourselves a chance, all the way from the start. They obviously go up 3-0 on us, but we had a good push. It felt like we played a good game against an opponent that's been giving us a lot of troubles. But you know, overall, I think that for 61 minutes, 62 minutes, whatever, we were good enough and we deserved to win.”

— Erik Karlsson, Penguins defenseman (dkpittsburghsports.com)

“It was just kind of a lot of chaos, honestly. Good little pick from Karl there, and the puck kind of just popped to me. Right place, right time, just kind of an open net.”

— Tommy Novak, Penguins forward (dkpittsburghsports.com)

What’s next

The Penguins will embark on a five-game road trip against other top contenders in the Eastern Conference, with their playoff positioning hanging in the balance.

The takeaway

This game showcased the Penguins' resilience and determination, as they refused to give up despite falling behind 3-0 early. The team's ability to rally together and find a way to win this crucial divisional matchup could prove pivotal as they fight for a playoff spot down the stretch.