Game Recap: Penguins Defeat Bruins 6-5
The Pittsburgh Penguins handed the Boston Bruins their third home regulation loss of the season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins threw it back to the 1980s with their 6-5 matchup on Thursday night. Goaltending and defense were optional, and star players cashed in on every other shift.
After a wild six-goal first period, the Penguins power play determined the remainder of the night. They went 1/3 on the man advantage but scored their fifth goal a few seconds following their first opportunity. Then Brad Marchand cashed in on a shorthanded tying goal on the second Penguins opportunity before Sidney Crosby put the game away on the final chance of the evening.
Goal Recap
(BOS 1-0) Brad Marchand (14): David Pastrnak (29) & Charlie McAvoy (21)
(TIE 1-1) Drew O'Connor (5): Kris Letang (21) & Lars Eller (6)
(PIT 2-1) Ryan Graves (2): Sidney Crosby (18) & Rickard Rakell (9)
(TIE 2-2) David Pastrnak (23): Hampus Lindholm (10) & Morgan Geekie (9)
(PIT 3-2) Jake Guentzel (18): Sidney Crosby (19) & Kris Letang (22)
(PIT 4-2) Lars Eller (7): Drew O'Connor (8) & Erik Karlsson (19)
(PIT 5-2) Jeff Carter (5): Kris Letang (23) & Bryan Rust (11)
(PIT 5-3) Morgan Geekie (7): David Pastrnak (30) & Charlie McAvoy (22)
(PIT 5-4) Jake DeBrusk (7): Brandon Carlo (7) & Morgan Geekie (10)
(TIE 5-5) Brad Marchand (15): Charlie Coyle (15) *SH
(PIT 6-5) Sidney Crosby (22): Erik Karlsson (20) *PP
Three Stars
3. David Pastrnak
David Pastrnak added three more points (1G-2A) to an already impressive season for the Boston Bruins. The ease with which he can make plays in the offensive zone is extraordinary, and he continued to prove that against the Penguins.
2. Drew O'Connor
There's something special about TD Garden for Drew O'Connor. O'Connor made his NHL debut in that building in 2021, and last night had possibly his best game as a professional hockey player. O'Connor picked up two points (1G-1A) but had the Bruins scrambling for answers as he created two shorthanded breakaways in the first period.
O'Connor's performance this season has come in waves, but he has played at a high level since the Penguins visit to Ottawa in late December and last night set a new career-high for points in a season (13).
1. Sidney Crosby
You can probably cut and paste Sidney Crosby's shifts from last night's game to add to his 2024 Hart Trophy nomination reel. He continues to make substantive plays in all facets of the game.
Crosby pulled further away from Joe Thornton on the NHL's all-time scoring list with a three-point performance (1G-2A). He collected his 90th career game-winning goal and won 72% of his faceoffs.
But his best play came in the final minute of regulation. With 35 seconds left in the game, the Bruins pressed hard for the tying goal. Crosby's line was at the end of the shift, and the Penguins iced the puck down the ice. The 36-year-old Crosby raced into the offensive zone, beating out a Bruins defender to negate the icing and drain another 15 seconds off the clock.
It's small plays like this that Crosby routinely makes that show you his determination to carry this team to victory. He continues to stack plays like that en route to what is quickly becoming a serious Hart Trophy campaign.
The Penguins will look to gain another victory over an Atlantic division foe on Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWrLeyA7yss[/embed]
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
- Subscribe to Inside the Penguins on YouTube
- Follow Inside the Penguins on Twitter: @InsidePenguins