The Pittsburgh Penguins were up by two early, but let it slide and couldn't climb back.

PITTSBURGH - Despite three games in a week against the New York Rangers, the Pittsburgh Penguins had to close out a five game homestand against the worst team in the Atlantic Division.

The Montreal Canadiens might not be the toughest competition, but the Penguins are yet to beat them in the 2022-23 season.

Going 0-5-2 in their last seven games and on the second half of a back-to-back where they gave up eight goals the night before, the Canadiens looked to be dead on arrival to Pittsburgh.

And the Penguins looked to take full advantage early by scoring a pair of goals in the first five minutes.

Jake Guentzel scored just 21 seconds in for his 400^th career point, and Evgeni Malkin ripped a power play goal to give the Penguins an early 2-0 lead.

That’s when the Canadiens mounted their first period comeback putting up three tallies in the next six minutes.

In the closing seconds of the opening period, the Canadiens tacked on a fourth goal on only seven shots.

More than just Tristan Jarry not making saves, the skaters in front of him weren’t doing any favors with multiple defensive breakdowns.

For the second time in a week, Casey DeSmith came in to relieve Jarry of his duties in net.

It’s not like the Canadiens were recording a plethora of shots against DeSmith, but the Penguins couldn’t beat Sam Montembeault.

Jason Zucker, who has been on an unreal run with goal scoring recently, found a great chance on a breakaway, but was robbed by Montembeault’s glove.

The Penguins did finally pull within one when Kris Letang picked up his 10^th goal of the season.

While down by one goal, the Penguins’ power play continued it’s turn around with another big blast from Malkin.

Guentzel managed to get a stick on Malkin’s slap shot and tied the game with his second tally of the game.

The Canadiens weren’t putting up much of a fight by only recording four shots through the entire second period.

Both teams entered the final frame knotted at four but it was the Penguins who looked to carry the momentum.

The Canadiens scored early to give themselves another one goal lead after P.O. Joseph let Anthony Richard sneak behind him.

Jan Rutta left the game after taking a shot to the knee and Jeff Petry was absent from the bench, forcing the Penguins to finish the contest with only four defensemen.

With time winding down, the Penguins pulled DeSmith for the extra attacker, but that proved to be the dagger.

The Canadiens potted an empty netter to lock in a 6-4 win and end the Penguins' homestand on a down note.

The Penguins looked like the better team on paper with 43 shots to the Canadiens' 22, but the Habs sealed the season-sweep.

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