The Penguins could understand what Montreal is going through.

They could relate.

Heck, they even could empathize.

They just couldn't let it show during their 3-1 victory against the Canadiens at Mellon Arena last night.

Know that cliche about injuries being part of the game? The Penguins found out during the past month or so just how big that part can be, and the Canadiens are learning the same lesson.

Fact is, they've already outdone the Penguins, who hit their high -- or is it low? -- point recently when they had seven regulars missing because of injuries.

Last night, the Canadiens were down eight bodies, five forwards and three defensemen, because of health issues and a ninth, ex-Penguins right winger Georges Laraque, because of a suspension.

Among the Canadiens nursing lost-time conditions are forwards Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez and defensemen Andrei Markov, Hal Gill and Jaroslav Spacek.

"You have to try to exploit the other team's weakness, and they're small in numbers [on defense]," Penguins right winger Bill Guerin said. "We know how that feels."

The victory was the Penguins' fifth in their past six games and raised their record to 17-8. They will visit the New York Islanders at 2:08 p.m. tomorrow.

Despite being seriously outmanned, Montreal battled from the opening faceoff. The Canadiens, though, never came up with an answer for Sidney Crosby, who scored the Penguins' first goal and set up their third.

On the latter, Crosby had the puck along the left-wing boards and, without looking, spun and threw a backhanded pass into the slot. Sergei Gonchar took it almost in stride and went to the net before sliding a shot between the legs of Canadiens goalie Carey Price at 16:56 of the second period.

"Not a lot of people can make that play," coach Dan Bylsma said.

Crosby gave his feed to Gonchar a lukewarm review, saying "it wasn't a great pass. It was in his feet, and he had to kick it up to his stick."

While no one disputed the details, Crosby still viewed the play quite differently than the 17,094 paying witnesses and just about everyone on the ice or benches.

"That was a beauty," teammate Mike Rupp said.

But not a surprise, at least to Gonchar.

"I've been around him for a while, so I knew he was capable of making that pass," Gonchar said. "So I was ready for it."

Gonchar said he did not call for the puck, mostly because it wasn't necessary.

"I just had eye contact with him," he said. "I knew he saw me."

Gonchar's goal effectively put the game out of reach. The one Crosby had scored at 9:21 of the first, when he beat Price from the top of the left circle, put them in front to stay.

The only assist on Crosby's goal went to Max Talbot, whose point was his first in four games since returning from shoulder surgery.

"Feels good," Talbot said. "Feels really good."

Just about everyone in a Penguins sweater had reason to feel good, including members of the Rupp-Craig Adams-Eric Godard line, who set a good tone for their teammates during the opening period. They accounted for 15 of the Penguins' 45 hits.

"It was probably their best game of the year," Bylsma said.

Guerin had a pretty fair one himself.

He was credited with six shots and scored the Penguins' second goal, when he went to the net and, after appearing to lose control of the puck, swatted it past Price at 6:41 of the second.

That became the winner after Max Pacioretty of the Canadiens beat Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury during a three-on-two break at 7:17 of the third period.

That wasn't enough to get Montreal back into the game, but the Canadiens never wilted, either.

The Penguins anticipated as much, despite Montreal's injuries -- "If you're playing against a bunch of kids from the farm team, they're going to put out their best effort and give you a hard time," Gonchar said -- and the fact that the Canadiens had to travel after beating Columbus at home Tuesday night.

"It was just a couple of mistakes that cost us tonight," Montreal coach Jacques Martin said.

"The back-to-back games. And they're a pretty good team."

Penguins Plus, a blog by Dave Molinari and Shelly Anderson, is featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.