The Penguins’ four-game win streak came to an end on Tuesday as they fell 3-0 at home to the St. Louis Blues. It’s only the third time the prolific Penguins offense (No. 1 in the league with 3.6 goals per game) has been shut out.
The Pens will look to start another winning run against the team which they last beat prior to losing to the Blues: the Boston Bruins. The Pens gave the Bruins a thorough 5-1 beating at home during their meeting last week. Conor Sheary starred with two goals and an assists, while Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists. Patric Hornqvist also scored a goal, and Evgeni Malkin added two assists.
However, Malkin will be out for this game and until after the All-Star break with a lower-body injury. Hornqvist is also suffering from a lower-body injury, and may miss out as well. The short-handed Pens have already been without defenseman Kris Letang for the past five games.
After letting in three goals from 101 total shots over his previous three games, goalie Matt Murray let in three goals in 28 Blues shots. He’ll look to bounce back against Boston, a team he’s already beaten twice this season. Murray has saved 85 out of 89 shots he’s faced from the Bruins this year.
The Boston Bruins had the complete opposite experience from the Penguins as they snapped a four-game losing skid by winning 4-3 in overtime against Detroit. Brad Marchand bagged a brace to lead the Bruins to that much-needed win. Top goalscorer David Pastrnak also broke out of his 17-game goalless drought as he got the overtime winner.
The win was a rare one for Boston on home ice. The Bruins are just 11-12-0 at home this season, which is the worst in the Atlantic Division. Prior to their win against Detroit, the Bruins’ 23rd-ranked offense (2.5 goals per game) was shut out in back-to-back home losses against the Islanders (4-0) and Blackhawks (1-0).
However, the Bruins have been very successful at home against the Penguins, going 6-1 in their last seven games.
Tuukka Rask was the goalie in all seven of those games, and he’ll be back in goal after taking the loss in last week’s meeting against the Pens in Pittsburgh. He allowed two goals in one period before leaving with a migraine. Rask returned to goal and got the win against the Red Wings, but allowed 3 goals on just 26 shots.
Writer’s Prediction
The Bruins (-120) capitalize on the Penguins’ absentees as they win, 3-1.
