Pittsburgh Penguins extend coach Mike Sullivan

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Mike Sullivan took the reigns of the Pittsburgh Penguins from Mike Johnston on Dec. 12 and went on to win a Stanley Cup.

This season, Sullivan has the Penguins out to a 33-16-5 record. On Monday, the team rewarded him with a three-year contract extension. Sullivan is 70-56-15 as an NHL head coach for the Boston Bruins and Penguins. The 46-year-old had an 11-year playing career for the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Bruins, and Phoenix Coyotes.

"Mike did the best coaching job in the NHL last season," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. "He continues to be a terrific coach and we are happy to give him a well-deserved extension."

The Penguins battle the New Jersey Devil at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Prudential Center.