Novak scores 2 goals, including OT winner, to help the Penguins beat the Canadiens 6-5
Pittsburgh Penguins' Tommy Novak (18) gets a shot past the stick of Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
PITTSBURGH — Tommy Novak scored his second goal of the game in overtime to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Novak converted a 2-on-1 from Evgeni Malkin at 1:33 of overtime, as Pittsburgh recovered after allowing a four-goal lead in the second period slip away.
Malkin scored a power-play goal and had two assists. He recorded his 1,411th point, passing Dale Hawerchuk for 22nd place in NHL history.
Ben Kindel was activated from injured reserve and scored a power-play goal, while Sam Girard and Declan Carlile also scored for Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby had an assist, the 1,109th of his career, which tied Hall of Fame forward Joe Thornton for seventh-most in NHL history.
Arturs Silovs stopped 20 shots.
Franchise icon, former owner and hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux took part in a ceremonial puck drop to celebrate the Penguins’ 60th season.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Tommy Novak (18) celebrates his goal with Egor Chinakhov, right rear, as Montréal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, foreground, collects himself during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
Cole Caufield scored twice, while Nick Suzuki, Chris Kreider and Ivan Demidov also scored for the Canadiens, who trailed 5-1 in the second period. Kreider scored with 1:08 to play and Demidov tied the game with 44 seconds left in regulation.
Montreal, which reached the Eastern Conference Final last season, sought to win its first two games of a season for the first time since 2015-16.
Jakub Dobes made 24 saves.
The Penguins outshot Montreal 23-5 during a 25-minute stretch and opened a 5-1 lead thanks to a four-goal second period.
Pittsburgh Penguins' Ben Kindel (81) returns to his bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montréal Canadiens in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
Malkin scored his second power-play goal of the season, while Carlile, Girard, Novak and Kindel added second-period goals.
Suzuki started the Canadiens comeback at 18:46 of the second period before Caufield, Kreider and Demidov forced overtime with goals in the third.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Begin a four-game homestand Tuesday against Carolina.
Penguins: Host Winnipeg Monday before playing six of their next seven on the road.
