Pens Get Last Quack

 

The Bruins hosted the upstart Pittsburgh Penguins last night at the Gardens. The two teams have been tales of similar trajectories, but Pittsburgh has made the most of their opportunities, and are finally turning a corner this season to be one of the top teams in the Wales Conference. Boston has been on the cusp for a couple of seasons, but tragically goaltending had let them down. This season the Bruin GM made a huge trade to bring back Dominik Hasek, a goalie that they drafted and traded away for Curtis Joseph. A plot full of irony there. Another goalie in Seasn Burke stole the show though for the Pens in a 3-2 victory.

 

The Pens showed early why they are one of the top teams in the Wales, jumping out to an early lead. Sergei Zubov and Chris Joseph both beat Hasek, two of the 16 shots that he faced in the period that Pittsburgh dominated. They were certainly the better team in the period and Boston looked dozey.

 

Steve Larmer got Boston on the board in the second period with his 13th on the powerplay. With Alexander Mogilny out of the lineup with a lower body injury, Zdeno Ciger was called up from Sandwich and filled in on his spot on the PP picking up the primary assist on the play.

 

Former Bruin Scott Young burned the aforementioned Ciger on another Bruin powerplay in the third period, scoring a shorthanded goal to put the Pens up 3-1. Ten seconds after, Theo Fleury got that goal back on the same man advantage to bring Boston within one. Boston kept pressing, outshooting the visitors 16-4 in the period but Burke was outstanding, earning full marks for the Pittsburgh win.

 

It was a close game, and a possible playoff preview between the two clubs. We'll see what happens if Mogilny is available for the next meeting.

 

The Bs are right back at it tomorrow night, travelling to Hartford to face the Wales leading Whalers.

 

GAME STARS:

 

3. Sergei Zubov

2. Steve Larmer

1. Sean Burke

 

GAME NOTES:

 

-The Bruin PP went 2 for 4 and the PK was 3 for 3

-Shots were 30-27 Bruins but As mention Sean Burke was the difference

 

THE SANDWICH REPORT:

 

The Sandwich Bruins hosted Ajax and came away with a 10-1 victory. Patrick Poulin lead the way with a pair and Pasi Nurminen got the win.