Penguins 4, Canadiens 3

In Pittsburgh, the star-laden Pittsburgh Penguins realize they haven’t played their best hockey through the first 15 games of the season. They hope a rare comeback against the NHL’s top team will get their offense going.

Sidney Crosby and David Perron scored in the shootout to help the Penguins defeat the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Wednesday night for their first

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers, Mark Letestu #55 of the Edmonton Oilers, and Carl Hagelin #26 of the Anaheim Ducks battle for a loose puck during the third period of a game at Honda Center on Nov 11 in Anaheim,

California. (AFP)

victory when trailing after two periods since Jan 5, 2014, against Winnipeg.

That’s been the trend so far for the Penguins, who started 3-4 before winning seven of their last eight.

But it hasn’t been pretty for a club loaded with offensive talent. Pittsburgh was ranked 26th in the league in goals per game, and five of the team’s past seven victories have been by one goal in lowscoring games.

Perron, the first Pittsburgh shooter, connected on his backhand before Crosby clinched it. The two-time MVP made a series of quick dekes before putting a backhand shot over Mike Condon’s glove.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais in the shootout after Pittsburgh rallied from a 32 deficit in the third period. Fleury, who made 32 saves, left briefly in the first after taking an inadvertent stick to the mask from Penguins teammate Ben Lovejoy.

Hornqvist’s third goal of the season tied it in the third. Olli Maatta was credited for his second goal when a shot glanced off him and into the net.