The Latest Breaking News from Brock McGinn

PITTSBURGH — We spent last football season criticizing Matt Canada. I know I did it as much as anyone. It was easy because his offense was a significant reason the Steelers missed the playoffs. How dare Canada let that happen?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Penguins might not have started strong Tuesday. But they were the better team when it mattered to win their third straight game.

PITTSBURGH — For the Penguins, wins are hard to come by against the Carolina Hurricanes. They lost Sunday in Raleigh, N.C., and were 0-2 against them entering Thursday.

The Carolina Hurricanes were in a tight game Sunday with the Pittsburgh Penguins, needing someone to come up big in the third period and make a difference.

PITTSBURGH — Thursday’s game was another roller coaster night at PPG Paints Arena. But when the ride came screeching to a halt, the paying customers unbuckled giddily.

CHICAGO — Evgeni Malkin skated in his 1,000th game Sunday, and the Penguins commemorated it by doing something they had not done since his 223rd.

MONTREAL — The Penguins earned five of six points on a road trip where they needed to bounce back, but good luck singing the virtues of that. With the lead at several points during the third period Saturday, the Penguins surely wanted point No. 6 to complete a perfect trip.

TORONTO — Through nine games this season, Brock McGinn had very little to show for his efforts. Just one goal and plenty of frustration.

WASHINGTON — The Penguins picked one heck of a time to finally protect a lead and salt away a victory, their efforts against a longtime nemesis enough to snap a seven-game losing skid that called into question nothing short of this group’s long-term viability.