Penguins Stun Bruins in Overtime Thriller

Tommy Novak scores game-winner 17 seconds into OT to complete Pittsburgh's comeback

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In a thrilling NHL matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins 5-4 in overtime. Tommy Novak scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds into the extra period, capping off a wild comeback for the Penguins, who were playing without injured stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Why it matters

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak for the Penguins, who are second in the Metropolitan Division and have points in 16 of their last 19 games. The loss is the fifth in the last eight games for the Bruins, who are clinging to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Anthony Mantha scored two third-period goals to help the Penguins rally, while Egor Chinakhov and Connor Dewar also found the back of the net. Pavel Zacha recorded a hat trick for the Bruins, but Mantha's late goal tied the game and set the stage for Novak's overtime heroics.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
  • Novak scored the game-winning goal just 17 seconds into overtime.
  • Mantha became the first Penguins player to score multiple game-tying goals in the third period since Alex Kovalev on March 23, 2002.

The players

Tommy Novak

The Penguins forward scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lift his team to victory.

Anthony Mantha

The Penguins forward scored two third-period goals to help his team rally from a 3-1 deficit.

Pavel Zacha

The Bruins forward recorded a hat trick in the losing effort.

Sidney Crosby

The Penguins' franchise cornerstone was out with a lower-body injury.

Evgeni Malkin

The Penguins' other franchise cornerstone was serving a five-game suspension.

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What they’re saying

“We must have showed a lot of character to come back like that without our two best players. I'm really proud of the effort from the guys.”

— Mike Sullivan, Penguins Head Coach (cbsnews.com)

“It's a tough one to swallow, but we'll regroup and get ready for the next one. We know we need to be better if we want to hold onto that playoff spot.”

— Patrice Bergeron, Bruins Captain (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Penguins will begin a five-game road trip on Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Bruins will host the Los Angeles Kings on the same night.

The takeaway

This thrilling comeback victory for the Penguins without their top stars shows the depth and resilience of the team, which remains in strong position to make the playoffs. For the Bruins, the loss is another setback in their battle to hold onto a wild-card spot, underscoring the need for more consistent play down the stretch.