Penguins rally from three-goal deficit past Bruins

PITTSBURGH — Jack Johnson’s goal into his own net was one of the low points of a forgettable first period for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Johnson’s short-handed slap shot later in the game helped the Penguins complete another memorable comeback.

Johnson and Bryan Rust scored third-period goals as Pittsbugh rallied to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Sunday. Pittsburgh came back from a three-goal deficit for the third time this season. It’s the second time in franchise history — 2008-09 was the first — that the Penguins have had three three-goal comebacks in a season.

Dominik Simon and Teddy Blueger also scored for the Penguins, who have won six of their last seven games.

Sidney Crosby has points in four straight games since returning from core muscle surgery. Crosby, who had two assists on Sunday, has three goals and eight points after missing the previous 28 games.

Matt Murray rebounded from a shaky start to make 34 saves for Pittsburgh.

David Pastrnak scored his 37th goal, and Patrice Bergeron scored his 21st and Anders Bjork his eighth for Boston. Jaroslav Halak made 18 saves for the Bruins, who are winless in their last six visits to Pittsburgh

Pastrnak has 11 goals and 24 points in his last 17 games. He’s the first Bruins player with 70 points in 50 or fewer games since Cam Neely and Adam Oates in 1993-94.

Pastrnak gave the Bruins a 3-0 lead at 15:07 of the first period, when he sent the puck to the front of the net, and it went in off Johnson’s stick.

“It’s a 3-0 lead and there’s a lot of game left, so you have to play the right way and keep pushing to keep increasing that lead,” Bergeron said. “I don’t think it’s a matter of effort. I think it’s a matter of us being smart.”

Johnson tied this game at 3 with a short-handed goal 1:41 into the third. He beat Halak to the blocker side with a slap shot from the top of the circle.

Rust gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead when he scored his 21st goal of the season at 12:35 of the third. Evgeni Malkin’s pass from behind the net set up Rust in the slot.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host Vegas on Tuesday.

BLUE JACKETS 2, RANGERS 1

NEW YORK — Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his second goal of the game with 26.5 seconds left to lift Columbus Blue Jackets over the New York Rangers Sunday night for their fifth straight win.

Bjorkstrand was playing for the first time after 13 games with an oblique injury. He tied it 6:08 into the third period, then put the winner past goalie Igor Shesterkin for his 14th goal of the season.

Columbus rookie Matiss Kivlenieks made his first NHL start and stopped 31 shots. The surging Blue Jackets are 15-2-4 since Dec. 9.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Host Islanders on Tuesday night before All-Star break.

Keith Srakocic / Associated Press David Pastrnak of the Bruins, right, grabs the stick of the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby during the third period of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh.