Scoring three unanswered goals to overcome an early 2-0 deficit against Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and the rest of the Penguins was impressive in its own right for a desperate Bruins team. The way they battled through adversity and had each other’s back’s (with all due respect to David Backes) was more important.

Especially just a few days removed from an embarrassing 5-1 loss to the same Pens squad in Pittsburgh – this time without Evgeni Malkin (lower body injury).

The second period started as badly as the first for the Black and Gold with an Adam McQuaid tripping call. Looking for a response with their back’s against the wall, Brad Marchand, who was fined $10,000 earlier in the day for his aggressive trip on Niklas Kronwall, gave the Bruins life with his 22nd career shorthanded goal at 1:38. He gave the Bruins momentum later with his second of the night and team-leading 21st at 6:27. Riley Nash gave the Bruins the lead on a tip-in – his goal first in 17 games – at 10:25.

“We definitely played the way we should have played from the second [period] on,” said Patrice Bergeron, who tallied his 11th of the season 51 seconds into the third. “Marshy’s [shorthanded] goal really gave us the momentum that we needed and it made us relax a little bit and just play our game.”

Then came the donnybrook.

Don’t believe me? Just ask Backes. From Trevor Daley blowing him off when the former Blues Captain wanted to drop the gloves to Phil Kessel out of all people wanting to try his luck against the power forward, Backes was indeed looking for a dance partner. At the very least, he might have told Kessel what he really thought of his tweet in reaction to Team USA’s performance in the World Cup.

“It’s one of those things where you’re down 2-0 and you either get what you put in or make a push and bind together and play your hearts out. We chose the latter, and you saw the result, and we get two points out of this game,” Backes said about the emotional second period following the 4-3 victory at TD Garden. “That’s the choice we need to make more often and maybe you don’t have legs one night, but you have to make a contribution different way.”

Also ask Colin Miller, who landed a few haymakers on Scott Wilson. The latter, after getting pummeled, earned an extra two minutes for roughing and a 10-minute instigator. Eventually, that led to Bergeron’s power play tally early in the third.

“The response by Millsy [Colin Miller] when he gets jumped there was huge for our team,” Krug said about his fellow defensive pair for the second and third period of Thursday’s win. “I think it created a spark and guys were excited to see him when we came back in the locker room and give him a tap on the shin pads and say ‘good job.’ So, it’s great when guys step up like that and it’s important.”

In their quest to return to the postseason, playing with emotion is what the Bruins need to carry over when they return from the All-Star break. Their season depends on it.

“I think, you know, we have to really focus on it — each and every guy, and we have to be aware of it and talk about it and make sure it’s present,” Marchand said about bringing a spirited effort on a nightly basis. “We have to hold each other accountable to that, and we have to continue to do that. When we do, when guys are holding each other accountable, holding themselves accountable, that comes out in our game.”