The streak officially is over.
The Boston Bruins found themselves in a two-goal hole early and never could crawl out of it as they had done so many times during their 19-game point streak. But the Pittsburgh Penguins were too much for the B’s in a 4-2 loss at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday night.
To make the loss harder, Boston also lost defenseman Matt Grzelcyk in the second period with an upper-body injury. He did not return to the game.
David Krejci and John Moore had goals for the Bruins, while Nick Bjugstad, Jared McCann (twice) and Jake Guentzel accounted for the Penguins’ tallies.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 33 shots, while Matt Murray turned away 39.
With the loss, the Bruins slipped to 42-18-9, while the Penguins climbed to 37-23-9.
Here’s how it all went down:
PENS GET TWO
It took Pittsburgh just 1:33 to get on the board and snag the first goal of the game. Bjugstad capitalized on some sloppy puck management from Krejci and Lee Stempniak in the Bruins’ zone and Bjugstad poked the bouncing puck by Halak for a 1-0 lead.
The B’s killed off two penalties in the period, but it was while they were on the power play that they fell down 2-0. Krejci turned the puck over at the blue line and McCann went on the breakaway and lit the lamp with 6:06 left in the opening 20 minutes.
Pittsburgh outshot Boston 14-8.
KREJCI STAYS HOT
Boston got its first goal of the contest 4:32 into the middle frame when Krejci found twine on the power play. The puck got to him after a strong net-front battle from Danton Heinen, who took a stick to the face in the process, before Krejci beat Murray to cut the Bruins’ deficit to 2-1.
Boston unfortunately found itself down another player when Grzelcyk’s right arm looked to get clipped into the boards by Patrick Hornqvist while he was battling for the puck. The defenseman clearly was in pain and went down the tunnel with the team trainer.
It didn’t get much better for the Bruins as Pittsburgh took another two-goal advantage, this time on the power play. Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron struggled to complete a shorthanded rush and Sidney Crosby got the puck over to Guentzel, who beat Zdeno Chara to the net to put the Pens up 2-1.
The B’s outshot Pittsburgh in the second, but couldn’t capitalize more than once.
PITTSBURGH SNAPS STREAK
The Bruins made things interesting late, but were unable to cap the comeback.
Charlie McAvoy nearly brought Boston back within one with a one-timer, but Murray mad a great pad save to keep the lead at two.
The Pens had some nice chances to pull ahead and put the game away, but broken sticks and saves by Halak kept them at a two-goal edge.
Boston made a mad dash with 1:01 left to play when Moore wristed the puck through traffic to bring the score to 3-2. But that’s all the team would be able to muster before McCann scored the empty-netter to end the Bruins’ streak that dated back to Jan. 19.
UP NEXT
The Bruins continue their road trip Tuesday when they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets. Puck drop from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET.
This Bruins Wrap is presented by Plainridge Park Casino.
