In a matchup of top teams in the Eastern Conference, the Pittsburgh Penguins extending their winning streak to nine games by defeating the Boston Bruins, 2-1, Sunday afternoon. The win currently puts the Penguins atop the Eastern Conference standings with forty-four points, two points ahead of the second place Montreal Canadiens.
All the scoring in this contest took place in the first period. Unlike most games the Penguins have been involved in this season; it took a little while for the offense to click. First Sidney Crosby made a move that woke up the Consol Energy Center when he split Bruins defensemen Zdeno Chara and Johnny Boychuk, but was denied by Tuukka Rask. About ten seconds later, he would beat Rask to put Pittsburgh ahead, 1-0. Tyler Seguin would waste little time in tying the game, when he beat Tomas Vokoun for his tenth goal of the season. With the game tied at one, and the period coming to a close, Craig Adams put a shot on net that was defended by Rask. However, with the rebound sitting uncovered, Joe Vitale did his best superman impression to give the Penguins the 2-1 lead going into the first intermission.
As the second period began, Kris Letang was absent from the Penguins bench. As it appears, Letang got injured late in the first period during a, what seemed like, minor collision with Brad Marchand. Pittsburgh is calling it a “lower-body” injury, and that he aggravated an old injury.
The third period saw Boston attempt to rally in the same fashion that the Penguins did to them last Tuesday. The Bruins dominated in shots, 12-3, but were not able to put another puck behind Vokoun. Pittsburgh turned to their defensive game, blocking seventeen shots during the span of the game. Brooks Orpik blocked an astonishing six shots himself.
The Penguins are off on Monday, but take the ice again on Tuesday night (7:30 pm/est; Root Sports, NBC Sports Network) against the rival Washington Capitals at the Consol Energy Center.
Notes:
-Pittsburgh remains undefeated with Mark Eaton in the lineup (7-0-0).
-David Krejci took a Johnny Boychuk shot off of his leg late in the third period, and did not return.
-Paul Martin picked up the slack in Kris Letang’s absence, registering 30:02 of ice time.
1. Tomas Vokoun (31 saves, .969 save %)
2. Sidney Crosby (1 goal)
3. Tyler Seguin (1 goal)
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