Penguins Blow Three-Goal Lead, Still Pull Out Win Over Bruins
The Pittsburgh Penguins watched a 5-2 lead slip away, but managed to pull out a big win. over the Boston Bruins.
The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t had a phenomenal history playing in Boston against the Bruins, but looked to bring their best in the first meeting of the season between these two teams.
After failing to complete the comeback against the Washington Capitals, the Penguins went with Alex Nedeljkovic between the pipes over Tristan Jarry.
An offensive affair was expected between the two teams and they wasted no time putting pucks in the net with five goals in the opening 10 minutes.
First Period
Brad Marchand kicked off the scoring when he was the first one to find a rebound just above Nedeljkovic’s crease just 40 seconds into the game.
A few minutes later, Drew O’Connor took his turn in finding a rebound to knot the game for the Penguins.
Kris Letang took a shot from the blue line that found its way to O’Connor who had no one around him to apply pressure.
Ryan Graves has been struggling this season and was demoted to the third pairing against the Bruins but found some luck with his second goal of the season.
A simple shot from Graves deflected off of a Bruins’ stick and straight past Jeremy Swayman.
The Bruins answered back themselves to bring the score even again with a slick goal from elite goal scorer David Pastrnak.
The Penguins didn’t let the Bruins carry any momentum and found the back of the net two more times before the end of the first period.
All-Star Sidney Crosby got to a dump pass first and fed Jake Guentzel for a wide-open cage to regain the early lead.
That one-goal lead stood for almost 10 minutes before O’Connor set up Lars Eller who let go a perfectly placed shot from a steep angle.
Now, after six goals in 20 minutes, the first period finally came to a close and the Penguins carried a 4-2 lead.
Second Period
The second period started with a little less consistency from both teams, but the Penguins were continuing to carry their momentum from the first.
They gained a power play chance just under five minutes in and failed to score, but as the penalty expired Jeff Carter banked home the Penguins fifth goal of the game.
The Penguins riffled off five shots with the man advantage but it was Carter’s swat that finally beat Swayman.
The midway point of the second period was fast approaching and the Bruins were yet to record a shot on goal.
Their first shot of the period, however, beat Nedeljkovic giving the Bruins some life.
In the closing minute of the second period, the Bruins crawled back to yet again make it one-goal game with a shot from distance off the stick of Brandon Carlo.
Third Period
With nine goals through two period, this battle was already a high scoring affair, but more offense was expected in the final frame.
With an early power play opportunity, the Penguins not only failed to score, but allowed a shorthanded goal the other way to Marchand for his second of the night.
The Penguins at one point lead this game by a score of 5-2 and were now facing a tie game in the third period.
For as much as the Penguins dominated the momentum to start the second period, the start of the third was the exact opposite with next to no offensive zone time through half of the frame.
Further down the road, the Penguins were given another power play chance that they took advantage of quickly by scoring just seven seconds into their chance.
Crosby labeled a perfect shot that tipped off of a Bruin past Swayman; Guentzel leapt perfectly over the shot before the deflection.
With just under three minutes in the frame, the Bruins pulled Swayman for the extra attacker.
The Bruins put on a ton of pressure winning crucial face offs in the Penguins' zone but couldn't break through.
The Penguins stood strong defensively at the most opportune time and fended of the Bruins attack.
It was a wild contest, but the Penguins took a massive two points out of Boston a city they have routinely struggled in.
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