The Penguins erased a third period deficit Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, winning 4-3 in overtime, and they did it down a pair of defensemen for more than half the game.
Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz played just 7:38 and 8:40, respectively, as they were injured in the second period on hits from center Adam Lowry and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan did not have any updates afterward, but everybody who spoke heaped praised on the effort turned in by those Penguins defensemen who finished the game.
“Wasn’t easy for us going down a couple D halfway through the game,” said Sidney Crosby, who notched his 1,000th NHL point at 6:28 of the first period and scored the game-winner at 4:38 of overtime.