PITTSBURGH -- Almost forgetting there was hockey game tonight, most fans around these parts are already talking about the potential matchup between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.
After a 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena, the Bruins enter the bye week with a 11-1-3 record in their last 15 games. The Bruins have earned points in 11 straight games with a 9-0-3 record.
The Bruins received a bit of a scare in the closing seconds of the first period when Patrice Bergeron needed help to the locker room after blocking a Kris Letang shot. Bergeron was hit inside his right knee and couldn't put any pressure on his leg as he limped off the ice. Fortunately for the Bruins, he returned to start the second period, but it's obvious he's still in a bit of discomfort.
Pregame notes
Masked men: Tuukka Rask enters tonight’s game with a career-best 12-game point streak with an 11-0-1 record, including his 39th and 40th shutouts. He has a 1.26 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage in his last 13 games. Overall, he’s 14-8-3 with a 2.09 GAA and a .925 SP in 26 games this season. In 17 career games against the Penguins, Rask is 9-6-2 with a 2.30 GAA and a .926 SP, including two shutouts. Tristan Jarry will get the nod for the Penguins tonight. He’s 2-2-0 with a 1.13 GAA and a .963 SP in his last four games.
Observations from the third period
- Penalty shot for Brad Marchand. Matt Murray makes the save.
- I understand what Pastrnak was trying there but not the right time and the Bruins are called for an icing.
- Veteran move there by David Backes to get an offensive-zone faceoff.
- McAvoy's having a tough period.
- Well, that was a damn good save by Rask on Crosby. Remember that one.
- This is the type of game when the Bruins need to score that one extra goal because Rask doesn't seem like he's going to make that one extra save.
- Can't put the Penguins on the power play. They already have two goals on the man-advantage.
- Here's hoping these two teams meet in the playoffs.
- Told ya. Penguins tie it at 5-5. A defensive breakdown leads to Riley Sheahan goal.
- Buckle up. It's going to be a high-flying period.
- Yup, and with 3.6 seconds remaining, Evgeni Malkin scores a power-play goal to cut Pittsburgh's deficit to one goal.
- With Charlie McAvoy in the box, this power play for the Penguins could be the turning point in the game.
- Bruins are getting the bounces now as David Backes finds a hole to give the Bruins a 5-3 lead and now Matt Murray will replace Jarry with 2:52 remaining in the period.
- David Pastrnak has the ability to freeze a defender and that's exactly what he just did before pumping in his 17th goal of the season to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead. The Bruins have scored three unanswered goals so far in the period.
- Just like that the Bruins tie it at 3-3. This time it's Noel Acciari on the receiving end of Brad Marchand outworking the entire Penguins shift.
- His knee might be hurting, but he can still win a faceoff. Bergeron wins the puck back to Brad Marchand, who quickly snaps it short side to cut Boston's deficit to one.
- Bruins can't get out of their own end.
- Bergeron's line starts the period but he's in obvious discomfort. Probably waiting for the meds to kick in.
- After blocking a Letang shot in the waning seconds of the first period, Bergeron is back to start the second. He was in obvious discomfort after the puck caught him in the right knee.
- With 30 seconds remaining in the period, Letang took a shot from the blue line and Bergeron blocked it with his right leg. He quickly went down, barley made it to the bench and needed help to the locker room.
- David Backes is sneaky good at shooting through traffic.
- Danton Heinen draws a penalty, and with Kris Letang in the box, the Bruins go on their second PP.
- Letang gives the Penguins a 3-1 lead.
- Those are two big boys going at it between Kevan Miller and Evgeni Malkin.
- Phil Kessel's power-play goal give the Penguins a 2-1 lead.
- Rask and Patric Hornqvist have a laugh after Kessel unloads a wrist shot off the goalie's mask and it falls off.
- The Bruins knew going into this game they needed to be disciplined because the Penguins have the best power play in the league. Matt Grzelcyk going to the box for interference.
- Geez, Bergeron can't buy a goal tonight.
- Bruins 0-for-1 on the PP.
- Penguins tie it at 1-1 on Jamie Oleksiak's goal.
- After a collision with Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby is shaken up. Not a good sign for the Penguins. He's being tended to by a trainer on the bench. Fortunately, Crosby doesn't miss a shift and he's back on the ice.
- After being a game-time decision, Ryan Spooner gives the Bruins a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. That line of Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci and Ryan Spooner has found its groove. Kevan Miller assisted on the goal and he's a plus-5 in the last two games.