3 Major Pittsburgh Penguins Takeaways: Jarry gets a massive boost, Canucks pay for early blunders and more from 5-4 win over Vancouver Canucks 

It's been a struggle for the Pittsburgh Penguins of late, who found themselves at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division along with the knowledge that their championship window is firmly shut and won't be re-opening any time soon.

That's the polar opposite situation for the Vancouver Canucks, who are contenders in the Western Conference and are expected to try and make a lengthy postseason run and build off last year's trip to Game 7 of the semi-finals.

The Canucks, fresh off Tuesday's 2-0 victory over the Boston Bruins, invaded Steel City to face off against the Penguins. But despite being superior on paper, the Penguins turned the tables on their visitors, winning by a 5-4 final score.

It was an explosive first period for the Penguins, who got goals from Blake Lizotte, Rickard Rakell, Kevin Hayes, and Bryan Rust in the opening 20 minutes alone. The Canucks countered with a goal from Aatu Raty which briefly knotted the score at 1-1 but trailed 4-1 after 20 minutes.

Rust would score again early in the second period, increasing Pittsburgh's lead to a seemingly insurmountable score of 5-1. But the Canucks would fight their way back into the contest and make life uncomfortable for the Penguins thanks to goals from Pius Suter and captain Quinn Hughes, followed by a late third-period goal from Elias Pettersson.

Despite a furious final push, the Canucks failed to secure the equalizer.

3 major takeaways from Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 win over Vancouver Canucks

#3. Penguins made Canucks pay for early blunders

Right from the get-go, the Penguins had the early jump and constantly hemmed the Canucks in their own defensive zone.

They also took advantage of a poor start from goaltender Arturs Silovs, beating him four times in the first period alone.

#2. Bryan Rust stepped up his game

While the Penguins are known to rely on the trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, veteran forward Bryan Rust looked 10 years younger against the Canucks on Wednesday.

His two goals gave him his 25th-career multi-goal game. The Penguins will need Rust to play like this routinely if they are to earn a more respectable record.

#1. Tristan Jarry finally breaks a lengthy skid

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry hasn't had a good season and was also demoted to the American Hockey League affiliate Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins to work on his game.

And while his performance against the Canucks wasn't perfect, he still did enough to earn his first victory since mid-October, and his first win on home ice dating back to March of last season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to build on the win when they travel to face the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Friday.