The Boston Bruins gave up the lead in the third period, tied the score to force overtime, but couldn’t earn two points in their matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.
Pens forward Bryan Rust scored at 1:24 in overtime to give the home fans at PPG Paints Arena something to cheer about.
Six of the Bruins’ last nine games have gone into overtime. Boston drops to 16-12-3 with the loss, while Pittsburgh improves to 20-7-3.
Here’s a recap of Bruins-Penguins.
DEBUT
Former Boston University captain Matt Grzelcyk made his NHL debut after being recalled earlier Wednesday. The 22-year-old defenseman logged 14:34 of ice time. The Bruins also placed forward Matt Beleskey on injured reserve Wednesday.
PENGUINS ANSWER BRAD MARCHAND’S GOAL
Brad Marchand opened the scoring for Boston with a goal off a wrist shot at 10:48 of the first period. It’s his ninth goal of the season.
It didn’t take long for the Penguins to answer back, though. Justin Schultz fired a shot past B’s goalie Tuukka Rask two minutes later, with Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary picking up assists.
POWER-PLAY MISCUES
The Bruins went 0 for 3 with the man advantage during the first period. They had a great chance to take the lead back during a 5-on-3 power play for 1:19, but Pittsburgh killed it off. Boston entered Wednesday with the fourth-worst power play in the league.
BRUINS REGAIN LEAD, THEN GIVE IT RIGHT BACK
David Krejci ended a 5-game goalless drought with a go-ahead tally at 6:40 of the second period.
Just like in the first period, it didn’t take much time for Pittsburgh to tie the game. Pens center Nick Bonino had ample time and space in the attacking zone and fired a shot past Rask, who was screened by B’s defenseman Kevan Miller.
DAVID PASTRNAK TIES IT
Bruins forward David Pastrnak scored his 19th goal of the season — season-most in the league — at 13:20 of the third period. It tied the game 3-3, a little more than four minutes after Sheary gave the Penguins their first lead with a power-play goal.
TUUKKA COMES UP HUGE
Rask stopped a Sheary breakaway late in regulation that helped force overtime.
RUST WINS IT
Rust beat Rask in overtime to give the Penguins their first regulation win over the Bruins in the last nine games between these teams in Pittsburgh.
UP NEXT
The Bruins are back at it Thursday night at TD Garden against the Anaheim Ducks. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
