Boston Bruins GameDay 40: Tired Bruins Fall to Pittsburgh in OT

In their last game before an early bye week, the Boston Bruins visited the Pittsburgh Penguins in their second game of a weekend back-to-back.

The Boston Bruins came into tonight on a three-game winning streak. They were 8-0-1 in their last nine games as well. This was the last game for both teams before heading into their respective bye weeks.

After two very high-scoring periods, Pittsburgh took control and kept the pressure on Boston. But, it was overtime that was needed to finish this one off.

1st Period

The Boston Bruins seemed ready to play, despite being on the second leg of a back-to-back. They opened the scoring less than two minutes in, with a rebound goal from Ryan Spooner. But, it didn’t take long for the Penguins to even the score. Following the tying goal, the Bruins still maintained pressure, got some good opportunities and at one point were outshooting Pittsburgh 7-2.

However, the last nine minutes or so of the period belonged to the Penguins. A powerplay goal by Phil Kessel, followed by a Kris Letang goal just two and a half minutes later, completely changed the tempo of the game. Pittsburgh continued to pressure Boston the rest of the period and a few big saves by Rask kept this game at just a two-goal lead.

As if being down 3-1 and predominately outplayed was not tough enough, Patrice Bergeron was helped down the tunnel after blocking a shot with less than a minute left in the period. Bergeron would return to start the second.

2nd Period

The second period belonged to the Bruins. It was a four-goal period for the black and gold. Boston’s top line of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak opened up the scoring 7:18 into the period off of a smart face-off win. A wrister by Brad Marchand for his 17th of the season. A minute later,  Noel Acciari put home his sixth of the year to tie the game. David Pastrnak, the Bruins point-leader, got the lead with a nifty unassisted wrap around. Everything started coming up Boston and the Penguins responded by making a goalie change. Backup Tristan Jarry had started, but it was now up to Matt Murray to finish, making it back-to-back nights in which Boston had forced an opposing goalie pull.

The Bruins weren’t down yet. With about three minutes to go, David Backes threw the puck to the net from the half-wall that somehow found its way past Matt Murray. It looked like the Bruins would take a 5-3 lead into the third, but with three seconds left, Evgeni Malkin was left wide open out front and put another past Rask. That last second goal kept the game wide open and gave the Penguins some momentum to take into the third.

Next: Bruins are Legitimate Playoff Contenders

3rd Period

Momentum for Pittsburgh to start the period was just that. They came out flying around and just under three minutes in, Riley Sheahan flew down the left-hand side and put one past Rask to tie it. A couple minutes later, the best powerplay in the league got a second chance after scoring in their first try during period one. Fortunately, the Bruins’ PK unit, a league second best, was able to hold them off. However, the Penguins continued to largely outshoot the Bruins throughout the period.

As a hockey fan, the third period was a lot of fun. While there were fewer goals than the first two periods, there was back and forth action throughout the whole twenty minutes. Pretty much at the midway point, it seemed it would be next goal wins or needed overtime. With a minute left, Brad Marchand was given a penalty shot. With the game on his stick, he made a nifty move to his backhand and attempted to goal five-hole. Murray got just enough of the puck to keep it from trickling through and the game remained tied.

Overtime

Marchand, Bergeron, and Krug started off the OT for the Bruins. As the third period had gone, Pittsburgh controlled most of the OT period. With 2:09 left, Evgeni Malkin earned the two points with a beautiful give and go between himself and Phill Kessel.

After a tough, high-scoring battle, the Bruins only walked away with one point. However, as they head into the bye week, they have now earned points in 11 straight games. There is plenty to be satisfied with but also continued work to do during their bye week.

Next game for the Boston Bruins is Saturday at Montreal.