Big Bad Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
Penguins beat Bruins again in Pittsburgh 03.17.13 at 3:01 pm ET
By DJ Bean

Sidney Crosby beat Tuukka Rask in the first period for his 13th goal of the season. (AP)

The Penguins beat the Bruins for the second time in six days, handing Boston a 2-1 loss Sunday at CONSOL Energy Center.

Sidney Crosby got the Penguins on the board at 12:06 of the first with his 13th goal of the season, and though Tyler Seguin tied the game at one later in the period, Joe Vitale took advantage of a bad rebound by Tuukka Rask with 32 seconds remaining in the first to give Pittsburgh the lead for good.

The loss also came with a big injury scare, as David Krejci was hit by a Johnny Boychuk slapshot with around five minutes left in the third period. Krejci jumped in front of the Penguins’ net to try to avoidthe puck, but he jumped right into it, with the puck appearing to hit him in the right knee with his pad down and leaving the knee unprotected. Krejci stayed down on the ice, and was tended to by trainer Don DelNegro. He was helped off the ice and put no pressure on his right leg as he left. Krejci did not return to the game. With Krejci out, Rich Peverley moved up to center Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton.

The Bruins have now lost two of their three games against the Penguins this season. The teams will next meet on April 19 in Boston. The B’s will play their next three games on the road, facing the Jets Tuesday, the Senators Thursday and the Maple Leafs Saturday.

WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE BRUINS

- Claude Julien put the Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg pairing usually seen in the postseason out against Crosby’s line for the defensive zone faceoff prior to Crosby’s goal, but Pascal Dupuis was able to steal the puck from Chara after David Krejci won the faceoff. Dupuis passed it to Chris Kunitz, who fed Crosby to set up the first goal of the game.

- Rask would probably love to have the Penguins’ second goal back. He was unable to hold on with his glove save attempt on a wrist shot from Craig Adams, and that allowed Vitale to swoop in and sent the rebound past the Boston goaltender.

- Some sharp work by the officials, as they busted Patrice Bergeron for a faceoff violation late in the second period. Though it was tough to tell in real time, replays showed that Bergeron did indeed glove the puck, making it the right call. The Bruins did an admirable job in killing off the penalty without Bergeron, as they held the Penguins shot-less over the course of the power play.

- The Bruins’ third line of Peverley between Jay Pandolfo and Jordan Caron has yet to score in its four games of existence, and Sunday saw the trio fail to put a shot on net until the third period (Pandolfo). That third line needed upgrading before Chris Kelly went down, and it would appear to be a matter of time before Peter Chiarelli does something to address it.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

- Crosby was not a happy camper when he was called for high-sticking Boychuk in the second period, and replays showed that he had a point. Boychuk used his own stick to bring Crosby’s stick up to his face. Pierre McGuire on the NBC telecast pointed to the play as proof that the NHL needs coaches’ challenges, and while it wasn’t that bad of a call, the Bruins caught a bit of a break.

- Seguin got off to a slow start, scoring just three goals over his first 17 games throughout January and February, but his first-period strike was his seventh goal in 10 games in the month of March.

Seguin was at the bottom of the left circle calling for the puck, and though Boychuk opted for a wrist shot on net, it worked out when the puck bounced off Bergeron and right to Seguin. The 21-year-old took advantage by firing it into the net with plenty of space.

Read More: David Krejci, Sidney Crosby, Tyler Seguin, Print  |  Email   | Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Bill_hicks

    Get used to it people. Bruins can’t take down the Pens or the Habs. So, you don’t have to watch the rest of the season. Just a friendly PSA!

  • junk

    Hey Bill, stick something large in your $^# and spin around, you $&#*

  • Troll Hunter

    Yeah, losing two games by one goal in Pitt makes for the end of the season. BTW not sure your realize the Bruins beat Montreal on the road already. Now go take a long walk off a short pier you loser..

  • Bill_hicks

    This doesn’t make any sense, tell me what you mean. You pu#$.

  • Double d

    Billy boy the bruins beat montreal this year beat it.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_RQDEFBPO2D4T3KVBEFNLQUDPFY Peter

    “- Crosby was not a happy camper when he was called for high-sticking Boychuk in the second period, and replays showed that he had a point. Boychuk used his own stick to bring Crosby’s stick up to his face. Pierre McGuire on the NBC telecast pointed to the play as proof that the NHL needs coaches’ challenges, and while it wasn’t that bad of a call, the Bruins caught a bit of a break.”

    How does Crosby have a point DJ? What transpired there is a high sticking penalty but because it’s Crosby it shouldn’t be called? I can assure you if the roles were reversed, that’s always a penalty against the Bruins and probably a game misconduct along with a suspension.

  • Troll Hunter

    Tough loss but giving up 5 goals, on the road, to Pittsburgh in two games is not too bad. Bruins still lacking the goal scoring needed to make a long run in the playoffs. I can’t remember the last time they scored over 4 goals in a game. Chiarelli needs to bring in another scorer and a puck moving defenseman. Teams have been able to bottle up the Bruins by pinching down on their outlet passes to the side boards. Like to see how Pittsburgh plays at the Garden. Tough to gauge a team when you have only played them on the road.

  • Anonymous

    With the win, the Penguins are 7-1 in their last eight meetings against the Bruins and 10-3 in their last 13.
    They have a tough time however it seems the puck bounces for the pens. It will turn.
    GO B’s

  • Xander Bogaerts

    Why were the Bruins playing a 1-2-2 today down by a goal with just over a minute left when they were trying to get Rask off the ice?? Bad decision making from the guys on the ice in that situation.

  • bmo1616

    Let’s not forget BOTH games were the 2nd game of a back-to-back, and both on the road.

  • J Mcgrath

    DJ:
    1) The Bruins are in Toronto Saturday and not Friday and

    2) The only reason for the “bad” rebound on Vitale’s goal was the original shot being deflected by Ference. Tuuka was moving to his right and had to move quickly back to his left just to get a glove on it.

    Other than that another outstanding job by you.

  • fab4ever

    You and I (and others) have been singing this need for awhile now…they need some punch…and if Krejci does go down, even more so….we have to come to some sort of conclusion here…either it’s simply that the Pens have our number or the B’s do not compete as well against better teams…I know the Rangers are not looking fgreat right now but they’ve had problems with them…that Habs loss was disturbing, the losing of a 3 goal lead against both the Caps and Pens…right now, nobody can say they’re the best in the conference….Go B’s!!!!!

  • rogerroger

    great analysis.
    Not!

  • rogerroger

    it makes perfect sense, but you have none.

  • rogerroger

    Game misconduct for a high stick? Suspension?! Get real.

  • Troll Hunter

    Yeah, it is unreal how they score 3 or fewer goals most games and are still in the hunt for the conference lead. They need at least one more scorer and probably two unless they get an offensive defenseman. This team is just that one or two players away from being dominant once again. Love to see how Pittsburgh plays on Garden Ice with both teams not going off back to backs.

  • NYCBruinsFan

    Yes it stinks loosing to the Pens today, however the Bruins even though have been playing like every single night have played three games less than the Pens and are only 3 points out. Pens are on a streak that will end soon. I’m just praying Krejci is okay since the line has been looking and playing pretty strong lately. Go B’s!!!

  • mike19599

    Stop the slapshots from downtown Boston and get some bleeping goals

  • Uncle Buck

    Just guessing, you about 14 years old ? 13 ?

  • fab4ever

    Let’s take a guess here….You’re the guy who believes that Ben Roethlisberger is a choir boy…and that Yankee players NEVER indulged in steroids….and that the Habs play the game the way it’s meant to be…yep, it’s high time B’s fans just turn the channel when the game is on…it’s a hopeless cause for sure…stay off the boards puss n ut s….you’re out of your league. Get back to your game of Halo with the other 14 year old boys and dream about Kate Upton…

Bruins Box Score
Bruins Schedule
Bruins Headlines
NHL Headlines