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Boston Bruins: 3 Studs Against the Penguins

By Scott Roche

Jan 26, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Craig Smith (12) reacts after scoring the game winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an overtime period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Craig Smith (12) reacts after scoring the game winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an overtime period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Bruins won their third straight game of the season Tuesday night with a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The win snapped the Penguins’ four-game winning streak and remained unbeaten at home early in the season.

Tuesday night, Pittsburgh trailed entering the third period, but two goals in the final 20 minutes forced overtime. In the end, the Bruins were able to score late in overtime to secure the extra point. Here are three Studs for the Bruins in the victory.

1. Brad Marchand

Once again, Marchand did just about everything for the Bruins. In the first period, he opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal. Incredibly, that goal marked the 11th straight season that he has at least one shorthanded goal.

He set up Nick Ritchie for a second-period power play goal for a 2-0 lead. Marchand spent 3:32 of time-on-ice killing off four of the Penguins’ five power play opportunities while racking up 3:32 of time-on-ice during the Black and Gold’s three man advantages.

In the absence of David Pastrnak and coming off of sports hernia surgery, Marchand has been one of the Bruins’ best players through the first six games of the shortened season.

2. Tuukka Rask

Once again, Rask bailed out the Bruins in the second period when he made 17 of his 28 saves in the middle period. He gave up two third period goals, but surviving the second-period onslaught was key in the win.

He had to make on save in overtime, but his biggest play of the extra session came in the final minute when Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were part of a 3-0 breakaway. Malkin and Letang passed the puck back and forth entering the zone, but instead of getting off a shot, they got too cute and Rask was able to deflect Malkin’s pass to Letang in front of the net to the corner.

3. Craig Smith

Because of Rask’s second period, Smith was able to end the game with 10.9 seconds left in overtime with his second goal as a Bruin. After the Penguins failed on their 3-on-0 breakaway, Boston didn’t miss on their 2-on-0 breakaway at the end of OT.

Smith collected a puck along the boards at center ice and broke in with David Krejci on Pittsburgh goalie Tristian Jarry. Smith was able to take a pass from Krejci and beat Jarry five-hole for the win.

Bruins: 3 takeaways from 3-2 OT win over Penguins. dark. Next

The win makes the Bruins 3-0 in their season-opening homestand and they can complete the sweep of the homestand Thursday night with a second straight victory over the Penguins.

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