Bruins Expecting Better Penguins Team In Game 2
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Bruins were able to take Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Penguins in Pittsbugh on Saturday, but they know it won't be easy to repeat that in Game 2.
Despite the 3-0 final to give Boston a 1-0 series edge, the Bruins know they have to play better Monday night.
"Any time you lose a game, especially in your own building, but being the team they are – they're going to be better," head coach Claude Julien said of the Penguins on Monday. "We expect that and that's why we need to be better as well."
Read: Bruins-Penguins Game 2 Preview
"We know they're going to come out harder; they'll be better than in Game 1, that's for sure," said David Krejci, who scored two of Boston's three goals and leads the NHL with 19 points this postseason. "We know we didn't play our best game, so we have to be better as well."
Krejci was called for a tripping penalty four minutes into the game, putting the best power play unit in the NHL on the ice. Boston was able to kill that penalty, as they did with the other three man-advantages they gave Pittsburgh, and Krejci atoned for the miscue a few minutes later by netting his first goal.
But chances are the Penguins won't be shut out on the power play if given the chances, and had any one of their shots that hit the post gone in, the game could have been much different.
So Boston is focused on getting off to a much better start, and keeping the fast Penguins' rush at bay once again.
"We have to play solid defensively. We know they're going to come out harder," said defenseman Dennis Seidenberg. "Last game they hit four or five posts, so we have to play just as strong and not turn the puck over."
"We want to focus on ourselves -- we know how they're going to play. We want to have a better start than we did and be more consistent throughout the 60 minutes," said Chris Kelly.
The Bruins have a golden opportunity to take a 2-0 series lead before heading back to Boston for Games 3 and 4. While taking one game in Pittsburgh has given Boston home-ice advantage, giving the Penguins any momentum could be costly -- and the Bruins know it.
"It's hard to win games in the playoffs and it just gets harder as you move forward," said Julien. "Every time you get a chance you have to make the most of it and don't waste that opportunity by saying 'at least we won 1 out of 2.' You have to go out every game and challenge and want to win that game, because nothing guarantees you those home wins – and I think Pittsburgh knows that."
Read: Julien Not Fueling The Fire
Tune in to every game of the Eastern Conference Finals on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to every game.
