After winning for the second time in three games and making transactions at Friday’s NHL trade deadline, the Boston Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final time in the regular season on Saturday afternoon.
Boston put together a complete game in a 4-1 win over the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. The Bruins will try to stem the up-and-down tide of a 5-1-5 stretch with more such efforts as the Stanley Cup playoffs creep closer.
“I think we played a good 60 minutes and that was good to build towards what we’re trying to accomplish later on,” defenseman Brandon Carlo said. “There wasn’t a lot for (Toronto) to generate off of the rush or even in our zone. It all starts there when we’re playing the right way.”
Even before the Bruins acquired defenseman Andrew Peeke from the Columbus Blue Jackets and forward Pat Maroon from the Minnesota Wild, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery noted that he was happy with where his team was at and will look forward to what’s to come.
“This is a team that has grinded its way and overcome a lot of adversity within the season,” Montgomery said. “I think that’s going to help us as we move towards the playoffs. … It was good to see the way we raised our level (against a competing team in the standings in Toronto).”
Boston’s four different scorers against Toronto included Morgan Geekie, who has five goals in five games.
Maroon will be a welcome addition to Boston’s depth when he recovers from undergoing back surgery on Feb. 6.
“The guy’s a winner,” forward Charlie Coyle said. “A couple different teams, won Cups and those are guys that can only help you in your room. The physical presence he brings, the veteran leadership. A guy who has won.”
It was a busy Thursday for the Penguins, who took a 6-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday before a trade that sent forward Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes was made official.
“Obviously, we didn’t do a good enough job of handling a lot of that noise that’s going on around the team,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said after Thursday’s game. “These guys are human, and as much as we preach, ‘Stay on task here and focus,’ obviously I have to believe that some of that had an impact on what went on the ice tonight. That’s not an excuse. We’ve still got to do our jobs.”
Pittsburgh has lost four of five and been outscored 16-4 in its last three losses.
Can that streak be turned around? With Guentzel’s trade looming, captain Sidney Crosby could only hope.
“(Thursday is) not going to be the kind of game that does that, but I hope,” Crosby said. “I think the trade deadline is always tough but I think, given the circumstances, it’s a little heavier.”
The Penguins did acquire forward Michael Bunting in the prospect-heavy Guentzel deal.
The 28-year-old, who had 13 goals for Carolina before the trade, was excited to join his new team for practice on Friday. Sullivan immediately put him on a Crosby-led power play unit.
“I’m excited to go where I’m wanted and I’m excited to be a Pittsburgh Penguin,” Bunting said. “Obviously, this franchise has a lot of history and knows how to win. I have two more years on my contract and I’m excited to come back and continue my career as a Penguin.”
–Field Level Media
