On Sunday, the Bruins kicked off the series against the first place Penguins. Looking to escape the Rangers’ recent run of success, the B’s could really use some positive results. Sunday’s game was probably the slowest of the entire season.
While Jeremy Swayman put up an incredible performance on the night, it simply wasn’t enough for Boston. The offensive side of the ice saw a real lack of creativity, and they couldn’t seem to finish off any chances.
The game was held level until the final frame, where Jake Guentzel finished his chance off for the lone goal of the game. Dumoulin and Sidney Crosby grabbed the assists. Despite a good defensive performance overall, Tristan Jarry was able to beat the Bruins, with a 30/30 shutout performance.
Tuesday’s matchup with the East Division leaders was a whole lot different, despite having a similar start. The first period and a half were just as slow, marking five periods with absolutely no offensive action for Boston. Luckily, with two minutes to go, David Krejci was able to find a backhanded snipe, which put the Bruins ahead 1-0.
The third period was simply the icing on the cake, as Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall added two more to the board, increasing the lead to 3-0. The late domination included hard hits and a show of physicality, the Bruins began to show some heart. Jeff Carter’s late consolation goal for Pittsburgh cut the lead to 3-1, but that’s how it ultimately ended.
Any two points at this stage of the season are massive. The Bruins maintain their spot on the fourth and last playoff spot in the East Division. With the red hot Rangers on their tails, they still need to win a few more games.
Time is running out, and the playoff push is almost over. The Bruins will start a series with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, with a 7:00 PM puck drop.