It was “Wednesday Night Rivalry” on NBC Sports Network last night for the Penguins-Bruins nationally televised encounter.

Another battle between two storied teams with the ‘Pens winning eight of the last 10 regular-season encounters.

Two teams going in opposite directions: the Bruins fighting for playoff life and tied for fourth in the Atlantic Division; the Penguins tied atop the Metropolitan.

Pick your metaphor to best represent the past three Bruins’ games – and their season so far – while their playoff plight gets scrutinized on a daily basis.

Three “L’s” in the from of a “S”hootout, an “O”vertime, and a “S”hootout.

That’s an “SOS” call.

How about the New Year’s Eve loss to the Leafs before the ball began dropping in Times Square, followed by two more dropping-the-ball losses to lowly Ottawa and Carolina.

Metaphors aside, management, trade and personnel rumors were swirling off ice –especially after Executive Principal Charlie Jacobs’ press conference on Tuesday.

“It’s unacceptable the way this team has performed,” Jacobs said in part, “given the amount of time, money and effort that’s been spent on this team, to see it deliver the way it has is unacceptable.”

How did his NHL franchise respond?

Evgeni Malkin turned Zdeno Chara inside out behind Tuukka Rask, feeding Beau Bennett for a short-side shot past Rask and a quick 1-0 lead just 3:37 into the game.

With the lowest power-play opportunities in the NHL, yet another Boston man-advantage went for nil the tail end of the period.

Chara, however, got the equalizer at 17:57 when he screamed a 30-footer from the left point over Fleury’s shoulder with Reilly Smith and David Krejci assisting. It was the team captain’s first goal since October 18, and his 17th career goal against the Penguins, most against any team.

The period ended with a “no-goal” call in the waning seconds after a goalmouth scrum in Rask’s crease.

Fifty seconds into the second frame, Patrice Bergeron headed to the penalty pine for hooking, and the Penguins put on a power-play clinic. But Rask kept the Penguins off the scoreboard.

The Bruins caught a break right after when Adam McQuaid avoided an interference call when he pushed a Penguin into Rask while the puck slid over the crease. It was ruled another “no-goal” for a crease violation by Pittsburgh.

The teams would swap missed power-play opportunities until Lucic, while absorbing a crushing check in the corner to Fleury’s right after a cross-ice pass from Daniel Paille, centered the puck to Bergeron who rifled it top shelf past Fleury at 15:37 for a 2-1 Boston lead. It was Bergeron’s 699th career game.

The Penguins had 10 of the first 11 shots on goal, including two direct bullets to Rask’s mask.

Pittsburgh entered the third period with the fifth-best defense in the league.

The Bruins were 12-1-1 when leading after two periods. That would be tested immediately when Malkin swooped end to end down the left side just 15 ticks in with a laser over Rask, and a 2-2 game.

Sidney Crosby clanged the post a few minutes later on the ‘Pens fourth unsuccessful power play.

Seven minutes in, Lucic found himself alone on Fleury off a Dougie Hamilton pass – no goal on the fan by Lucic, who is scoreless in his last eight games.

Claude Julien shortened his bench the last 10 minutes for a tight fight to the finish of regulation.

In overtime, Bennett clanged one off Rask’s left post 20 seconds in.

At 2:43, Bergeron tipped a high Lucic shot from the point past Fleury. After a several-minute delay to determine a possible high-stick deflection, it was ruled below the crossbar – and a game-winning goal for Boston. Torey Krug also got an assist.

During the game, Julien commented: “We got to loosen up. Hopefully we’ll find our game.”

“[The Bruins] need to make some sort of move to shake things up.” – NBC analyst and former Bruins player and coach Mike Millbury said during the first intermission.

With Toronto’s loss to Washington, the win leapfrogs Boston into the final playoff spot – and slows the flow of metaphors, quiet the brass and critics, and maybe find their game.

For now.

A rejuvenated New Jersey Devils come to TD Garden in less than 24 hours.

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