NEW YORK _ Another regulation loss was secure after 60 minutes and the score tied at 2.
However, the Penguins didn't achieve true satisfaction with their effort until Sidney Crosby offered a joystick-like juke and Kris Letang scored at 1 minute, 24 seconds of overtime to produce a 3-2 Penguins win over the New York Islanders on Friday at Barclays Center.
Another regulation loss, even in mid-November, might have made for some tense moments considering what happened the last time the Penguins took the ice.
Wednesday's loss in Washington had Sullivan and his players irritated, every one of them feeling they had something more to give, and there was ample talk at Friday's morning skate about a response.
They got it, eventually, and they have Crosby and Letang to thank, two players that put the Penguins at an unbelievable skill advantage at three-on-three.
Friday's win follows recent precedent when it comes to returning from blowout losses for the Penguins. The last six times they've allowed seven or more goals in a game, they've followed with a victory five times.
They've also now gone 29 consecutive games against divisional opponents without dropping two in a row, a testament to the resilience they've shown under Sullivan.
The Penguins, who had been outscored 7-2 during their previous four first periods, were focused on having a better start. They preached as much following their morning skate, and followed that script early.
They accounted for 15 of the 20 shots on goal taken in the first period, allowing the Islanders minimal opportunities. In addition to the shots that reached the net, the Penguins led in attempted shots, 29-19, an indication of how much they carried the play.
Crosby staked the Penguins to a 1-0 lead at 15:19 with his 11th goal of the season. Jaroslav Halak _ and really the entire Islanders defense _ did little following a Kris Letang point shot.
Closing in from the right circle, Crosby picked up the loose puck and finished easily. The goal gave Crosby 31 goals and 97 points in 56 career games against the Islanders, the most against any opponent for Crosby.
The power play goal also accomplished one of the things that Penguins needed to do to best the Islanders, who had recently snapped out of a 20-for-32 stretch on the penalty kill.
That strong start dissipated in the second, though, and it started with a carry-over roughing penalty on Evgeni Malkin at 20:00 of the first period.
Brock Nelson scored a power play goal to make it 1-1 at 1:51, taking a feed from Ryan Strome and beating Matt Murray blocker side.
Anthony Beauvillier pushed the Islanders ahead, 2-1, with a pretty breakaway move. Letang couldn't control a bouncing puck, and Beauvillier beat Murray with a backhander up high at 2:34.
Trevor Daley brought the Penguins back even at 14:55 with his second goal of the season, off a shot from the point. Malkin created a turnover, Phil Kessel won a battle behind the net and backhanded the setup. Daley, who missed a chunk of the second period, buried it from 27 feet.
The Penguins survived a much more frightening injury scare early. Brian Dumoulin was battling in front with Jason Chimera and was hit up high by Anders Lee.
He immediately left the ice and likely went through the concussion protocol. The hit looked like it might sideline Dumoulin for days or months, not minutes, but he returned about 10 minutes later.
