It may have only been the thirteenth game of the season, but the intensity was ratcheted up to a playoff-like atmosphere, Wednesday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.
Unlike the Eastern Conference Finals from last spring, one that saw the Bruins sweep Pittsburgh in four games, the Penguins were able to beat goaltender Tuukka Rask for just enough goals to hold on.
Jarome Iginla made his way into this inter-conference rivalry, this time playing opposite of the Penguins, a team he was traded to last season.
The Penguins dominated the opening period, with scoring chances from Boston sprinkled in between. Rask was sharp however, making two partial breakaway stops on Evgeni Malkin.
Milan Lucic committed the first penalty of the game 6:15 into the second period, putting the Penguins’ ice-cold power play unit on the ice. Sidney Crosby tried to setup Kris Letang in the slot but Letang could only redirect the puck in front of Rask. Kunitz was somehow able to put back the rebound through the five-hole of Rask, despite the puck being caught between his skates.
Boston came back and scored just 1:05 into the third period.
Dennis Seidenberg’s slap shot from the left boards was redirected past Marc-Andre Fleury by Patrice Bergeron from a tough angle.
From there, Boston started to surge carrying most of the play for the first half of the final frame.
Brandon Sutter broke the 1-1 tie with nine minutes remaining in the game. A stretch pass by Brooks Orpik was redirected by Pascal Dupuis to Sutter who was skating down the right side. Sutter cut to the net and unleashed a perfect wrist shot to beat Rask over his right shoulder.
Jussi Jokinen beat Rask on a similar shot from the top of the slot with just over two minutes to go, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
Iginla scored just nineteen seconds later off a one-timer from a set face off play. Patrice Bergeron had a clean face off win from the right dot to Lucic who quickly set up Iginla for a one-timer from the point. The puck found its way through traffic and past Fleury to cut the Boston deficit to one.
The Bruins pulled Rask and controlled the puck for the remainder of the game. But a great save by Marc-Andre Fleury, sliding from left to right, stonewalled David Krecji as time expired.
- With three goals, the Penguins outscored their total output in four playoff games against Boston from last year (2).
- Brandon Sutter scored his first goal since June 3rd of last season, Game 3 of the ECF.
- Evgeni Malkin, who was one of the best players on the ice, was held off the scoresheet for the fourth time in the last five games.
Three Stars
- Brandon Sutter
- Jussi Jokinen
- Patrice Bergeron
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
