SALT LAKE CITY — Egor Chinakhov’s stick snapped into pieces as the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ (32-18-15) winger tried to shoot from the point on a second-period power play. As the pieces flew, it was a glittering example of the team’s struggles through the first 30 minutes of the game. Four wasted power plays, few shots, and nothing but a tertiary offensive attack led to what appeared an oppressive 2-0 deficit to the Utah Mammoth (24-26-6).

A back and forth third period, the Penguins survived a Utah onslaught in the final minutes for a 4-3 win at the Delta Center.

It was the third game and the Penguins’ first win on the five-game road trip. It was also the last game of Evgeni Malkin’s five-game suspension.

The Penguins rode a wave of emotion following their first goal, which came via a second-period two-man advantage, and tied the game 2-2 less than three minutes later. The emboldened Penguins shook off a multi-game malaise for a dramatic, high-stakes third period.

Penguins winger Noel Acciari gave the Penguins their second lead of the third period when he chipped a rebound past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka from his knees at 8:03 of the third.

The Penguins desperately needed the two points, as both the New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets won Saturday. The wins meant the Islanders temporarily vaulted two points ahead of the Penguins for second place, while Columbus tied them for a final playoff spot in the Metro Division. The Penguins’ win gave them 81 points, keeping them in second place and two points ahead of Columbus.

While the Penguins own the regulation wins tiebreaker against Columbus, being would have represented a complete vacated seven-point lead from one week ago.

The Penguins weren’t necessarily the better team Saturday, but Utah couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, yielding six Penguins power plays.

The converse was that Utah’s physicality was immediately an ever-present factor. Utah not only outshot the Penguins 12-8 in the first period, but outhit them 13-3.

Utah winger Dylan Guenther scored his first goal of the game after botched Penguins breakouts and his takeaway from center Blake Lizotte at center ice. Guenther (32) stole the puck and charged into the offensive zone to beat Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner from the right circle at 5:06 of the first period.

Guenther (33) quickly scored again, but his second was a questioned power play goal. Barret Hayton chipped the puck behind Skinner, and the puck glided along the goal line. Guenther’s front skate missed it, but his back skate pushed the puck into the net for a 2-0 lead at 6:37.

Referees initially waved off the goal, but after a center-ice conference, they counted it. Penguins coach Dan Muse spent considerable time arguing a case, but ultimately decided against a challenge; Muse is 0-for-7 on goal challenges.

Penguins winger Anthony Manhta tied his career high with his 25th goal of the season late in the second period. As a pedestrian 5v3 neared its end, Mantha fooled Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka but looking for a pass, but then turning his wrists for a sharp short-side wrister 14:48 of the second.

The goal was a hurricane wind in the flagging Penguins’ sails.

A few minutes later, the Penguins line with Mantha, Tommy Novak and Ville Koivunen hemmed Utah in the defensive zone. A blocked shot deflected toward Novak in the right circle, and Novak (15) quickly snapped the shot past Vejmelka for a 2-2 game at 17:26.

The Penguins even surged to a 3-2 lead early in the third period on their sixth power play when Bryan Rust (24) wristed a rebound past a scrambling Vejmelka at 1:24.

However, Utah did not wane in the third. A few minutes after Rust’s goal, former Penguins defenseman Ian Cole tied the game 3-3 when the Penguins failed to cover him as the trailer, and he ripped a shot past Skinner at 4:17.

Skinner made several key saves in the third period, including getting just enough of Michael Carcone’s breakaway with less than five minutes remaining. After Skinner deflected it, the shot hit the crossbar.

Skinner stopped 25 of 28 shots for the win. Vejmelka made 18 saves on 22 shots.

As a Penguins milestone, with a pair of assists, Erik Karlsson passed all-time great Bobby Orr with his 915th and 916th career points.

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Categorized:Penguins Postgame