What we saw Thursday was not a recipe for sustained success for the Penguins. But they sure cooked up an entertaining game as they beat the Florida Panthers, 5-3.

The Penguins won their fourth consecutive game in thrilling fashion, despite taking only 15 shots, going 1 for 3 on the penalty kill and giving up a pair of third-period goals.

Captain Sidney Crosby — who else? — led the way, pacing the Penguins with two goals and three points at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. Tristan Jarry was one of their stars of the night, too, sealing the victory with one truly jaw-dropping save.

The Penguins stifled the defending Stanley Cup champions during the first period, limiting them to only five shots. Crosby put Pittsburgh in front on the power play.

In the second, Rickard Rakell made it 2-0 on a hardworking shift for the top line.

From there, the Panthers would outshoot the Penguins, 29-5, the rest of the way.

The Panthers answered with a Brad Marchand tap-in on the power play, then for a long stretch had the Penguins on their heels with ferocious forechecking. It felt as though the equalizer was inevitable when Ben Kindel buried a beauty. The rookie bombed a one-timer over Sergei Bobrovsky’s blocker for his second career goal.

The Penguins entered the night as one of the NHL’s stingiest third-period teams. But the final frame was a roller coaster, with the Panthers twice getting back within one.

Early in the third, Sam Reinhart caught Jarry cheating off his post to score another power-play tally for the home team. Connor Dewar’s fluky goal made it a 4-2 game.

Marchand scored his second of the night, then Crosby got his second, too, just 43 seconds later. A tic-tac-toe passing play put him in position to score from one knee.

Jarry and the Penguins weathered the storm the rest of the way to earn a 5-3 win.

It was over when ...

When Jarry robbed Marchand with just over six minutes left in the game. The score was 5-3 and Marchand was looking for a hat trick when he pounced on a rebound. Jarry looked to be down and out but he lifted both legs to make a “scorpion save.”

Stat of the game

3 — games with multiple power-play goals for the Penguins over their first eight

Around the boards

— Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas provided a couple of injury updates on his radio show Wednesday. Rutger McGroarty should be ready within the next month, and when he is the young winger will be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. As for Kevin Hayes, Dubas said the veteran forward is expected back in the next two-three weeks.

— Harrison Brunicke was scratched Thursday. Presumably, it was part of the team’s plans to manage its two teenagers. Connor Clifton replaced Brunicke in the lineup.

— Clifton took the penalty that preceded Marchand’s power-play tally in the second.

— Crosby hit another milestone Thursday. It was the 497th multi-point game in his NHL career. That tied Crosby with Mario Lemieux for the most in Penguins history.

— It was Jarry’s turn in goal. He made 34 saves in the win. He made several spectacular stops during the final two periods as the Panthers tried in vain to tie up the score. He improved his record to 3-1-0 on the young season with a .921 save percentage.

— Dewar has three goals in the last four and seven in his 25 games in black and gold.

— Caleb Jones limped to the locker room after a collision in the corner late in the game. Marchand was involved. It appeared Jones suffered an injury to his left leg.

— Matt Dumba and Philip Tomasino were the Penguins’ other scratches Thursday.

Coming up next

The Penguins have a scheduled day off Friday. Their next game is Saturday against Columbus at PPG Paints Arena. Prior to puck-drop, the Penguins will induct Scotty Bowman, Ron Francis, Eddie Johnston and Kevin Stevens into their Hall of Fame.

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