Pittsburgh’s 10-game level streak ends; Boston maintains lead in Atlantic
Recap: Bruins at Penguins 4.13.24
PITTSBURGH — The Boston Bruins had six totally different goal-scorers and ended the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 10-game level streak with a 6-4 win at PPG Paints Enviornment on Saturday.
Pavel Zacha had a purpose and an help, and David Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle every had two assists for the Bruins (47-18-15), who’ve received 5 of six. Linus Ullmark made 28 saves.
Boston is first within the Atlantic Division, one level forward of the Florida Panthers, who defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3-2 in additional time Saturday.
“We’re combating for first, however we’re extra frightened about getting our sport prepared for the playoffs,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery mentioned. “We’re frightened about Recreation 1 within the playoffs. Whether or not we’re first or second, it could be good to be first, however that is not as paramount as our sport being prepared.”
Erik Karlsson had an help in his 1,000th NHL sport, and Michael Bunting, Evgeni Malkin and Drew O'Connor every had a purpose and an help for the Penguins (37-31-12), who have been 7-0-3 of their earlier 10 video games. Alex Nedeljkovic allowed three objectives on 16 pictures earlier than being pulled within the second interval of his eleventh straight begin; Tristan Jarry made 12 saves in reduction, his first sport since March 24.
“I simply suppose the essential factor that we’ve to concentrate on and be targeted on is the sport proper in entrance of us,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan mentioned. “That’s actually the one factor we are able to management. We knew this was a troublesome stretch. This was going to be a troublesome one tonight in opposition to among the finest groups within the League.”
BOS@PIT: Marchand places dwelling a slick short-handed purpose in tight
The Penguins fell out of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Jap Convention, one level behind the Washington Capitals, Detroit Pink Wings and Philadelphia Flyers with two video games remaining.
“It’s what it’s,” Karlsson mentioned. “We are able to’t do something concerning the different groups round us. All people’s in the identical scenario. We’ve obtained two video games left. We knew that we have been going to must no less than win two. Fortunately, we’ve two video games left.”
Jake DeBrusk put the Bruins forward 1-0 at 8:08 of the second interval, poking within the puck underneath Nedeljkovic, earlier than Zacha scored 14 seconds later, making it 2-0 at 8:22 with a wrist shot from the slot on a rebound.
“Clearly, they’re combating for his or her lives,” DeBrusk mentioned. “I believe with the later begin, it was undoubtedly a distinct really feel to the sport. I assume first interval, and doubtless after that, there have been some momentum shifts. That they had some good shifts.
“We capitalized on our possibilities. One other take a look at for us. That is what we’ll be seeing arising.”
Bryan Rust minimize it to 2-1 at 10:27, tapping in a cross from O’Connor.
Kevin Shattenkirk prolonged the result in 3-1 at 11:35 to finish a 28-game purpose drought with a snap shot from the precise face-off circle, leading to Jarry changing Nedeljkovic.
“I believed the environment was nice tonight,” Shattenkirk mentioned. “So it form of creates that playoff environment for us, juices you up a little bit bit, fairly than taking part in someplace that could be a little bit bit quieter and is likely to be tougher to get into the sport.”
BOS@PIT: Zacha fires one in off the tip boards to make it 2-0
Brad Marchand pushed it to 4-1 with a short-handed purpose at 14:54 on a wrist shot by way of Jarry’s five-hole.
Bunting scored on the identical energy play, slicing the deficit to 4-2 at 15:52 by tipping in a cross from Malkin within the crease.
O’Connor minimize it to 4-3 on a short-handed purpose at 4:32 of the third interval, backhanding the puck previous Marchand, going round him and holding him off for a shot from the slot.
Morgan Geekie made it 5-3 on a one-timer at 14:10 earlier than Danton Heinen scored an empty-net purpose, extending it to 6-3 at 17:13.
Malkin scored with 1:21 remaining for the 6-4 remaining.
“It’s important to fear concerning the subsequent one. That’s it,” Penguins captain Sidney Crosby mentioned. “That’s what we’ve been doing right here for a very long time. So we’re practiced fairly properly at that.”
NOTES: Crosby, 36, had the secondary help on Rust’s purpose to achieve 90 factors (41 objectives, 49 assists) in 80 video games this season. He’s the ninth participant in NHL historical past to hit that mark at 36 or older. … Karlsson’s 814 factors (188 objectives, 626 assists) are the tenth most by a defenseman by way of 1,000 NHL video games, behind Paul Coffey (1,249), Ray Bourque (1059), Denis Potvin (1,011), Al MacInnis (966), Phil Housley (959), Bobby Orr (915), Brian Leetch (900), Brad Park (823) and Doug Wilson (815). … Ahead Pat Maroon had one shot on purpose in 13:16 of ice time in his Bruins debut after being acquired in a commerce with the Minnesota Wild on March 8. He had not performed since having again surgical procedure on Feb. 6.