Pens Hold On, Beat Bruins 2-1
BOSTON (KDKA) – The Penguins saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday, but got back in the win column Saturday afternoon in Boston.
Matt Cooke's goal just 1:53 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Penguins held off the Bruins for a 2-1 victory.
The Penguins struck first with a power play goal by Evgeni Malkin in the dying seconds of the first period.
Chris Kunitz's initial shot was stopped by Tim Thomas, but the rebound squirted out to his right. Malkin hustled to the loose puck and buried it to put the Pens up 1-0 with just 8.8 seconds left in the period.
The goal was his 28th of the season and it was also his 60th point.
Despite being outshot 10-4 in the opening period, the Penguins took that lead into the first intermission.
Boston came out on the second period and nearly capitalized on a couple of early chances. They were given a prime opportunity to even the score when Pascal Dupuis was assessed a four-minute double minor for high sticking.
However, the Penguins' penalty kill stood tall and Marc-Andre Fleury came up with a huge pad save on a backdoor attempt by Joe Corvo to keep the Bruins off the board.
While the score remained unchanged in the second period, the Penguins were able to outshoot the Bruins 12-10 in the period.
Cooke's third period goal took the air out of the TD Garden briefly.
A goalmouth scramble ensued and Cooke was able to find the loose puck in the crease and slam it home before getting knocked to the ice.
Boston fans still have not forgotten his hit on Marc Savard and showered him with boos when his name was announced as the goal scorer.
Dustin Jeffrey and Pascal Dupuis picked up assists on the play.
The Penguins had all of the momentum going, but the Bruins were finally able to solve Fleury with just under 14 minutes to play in the game.
Joe Corvo fired a wrist shot from the point through a screen that got by Fleury and cut the Penguins' lead in half.
That would be the only puck to get behind Fleury despite several sparkling chances by the Bruins late in the period.
Fleury finished the game with 28 saves to record his ninth straight victory. Thomas stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced in the contest.
Up next, the Penguins will travel to New Jersey to take on the Devils who beat the Flyers 6-4 Saturday afternoon.
Pittsburgh is now just two points behind the Flyers in the Atlantic Division.
RELATED LINKS
Shea-ved Ice Blog
More Sports News
More Penguins News
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL
