Pens' Win Streak At 9 With 5-2 Win Over Bruins
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins passed a tough test against the Boston Bruins Sunday afternoon.
The Penguins got goals from five different players to propel them to a 5-2 win to extend their winning streak to nine games.
In the first period, the Penguins raced out to a 3-0 lead with goals by Arron Asham, Matt Niskanen and James Neal.
Just over three minutes into the period, Ben Lovejoy's slap shot from the point was blocked. Arron Asham picked up the loose puck and ripped a low shot through Tim Thomas' legs to put Pittsburgh up 1-0.
- Photo Gallery: Pens Defeat Bruins, 5-2
About four minutes later, Niskanen would double the lead.
Evgeni Malkin fed a pass to Niskanen in the same spot where Lovejoy's shot was blocked earlier. Niskanen let a slap shot fly, which found its way through traffic and got behind Thomas for a 2-0 lead.
As the period wore on, frustration seemed to settle in for the Bruins as a parade to the penalty box ensued.
With Milan Lucic in the box for slashing, Zdeno Chara was called for interference, which gave the Penguins an extended 5-on-3 power play.
About a minute into the two-man advantage, Malkin fed Neal with a cross-ice pass and he made no mistake with a shot between Thomas' legs.
Pittsburgh would take the 3-0 lead to the locker room and outshot the Bruins 10-7 in the period. However, the Bruins came out in the second period and began to take it to the Penguins.
The Bruins elected to pull Thomas and replace him with newly-signed Marty Turco to start the period.
After killing off a penalty to Dennis Seidenberg, the Bruins capitalized on a turnover in the neutral zone.
Tyler Seguin sprung David Krejci for a breakaway and he beat Marc-Andre Fleury over the glove to get Boston on the board and cut the lead to 3-1.
Pittsburgh would quickly respond to regain their three-goal lead.
Malkin took the puck behind the net and fed Neal with a pass while being tripped. Neal quickly fired a cross-crease pass to Chris Kunitz for an easy one-timer goal to put the Penguins up 4-1.
Midway through the period, Turco made a sprawling save on Jordan Staal's breakaway attempt, which led to some offense at the other end.
Lucic protected the puck as he drove around the net and found Krejci all alone in front for his second goal of the game.
In the third period, try as they might, the Bruins could not get another puck behind Fleury.
With just under four minutes to play in the game, Pasca Dupuis chipped the puck around Lucic and went in on a breakaway. After a nifty move to the backhand, Dupuis deposited the puck into the net to cap the scoring in the game.
The Penguins are now just two points behind the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division standings. Ironically, the Penguins' next game will be on the road against the Rangers Thursday night.
It is possible that the Penguins could move into a tie with the Rangers with a win Thursday night.
However, New York plays the Islanders Sunday night. They also will play host to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.
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