The Pittsburgh Penguins (19-11-6) and their suffocating penalty killing defense take on the Boston Bruins (28-4-4), one of the league’s top power play offenses, at Fenway Park on Monday. Pittsburgh is coming off a 4-2 loss against the Devils on Friday, their fourth defeat in a row. The Penguins committed six penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal.
Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Carter each scored once for the Penguins. Tristan Jarry only had 24 saves on 27 shots against (.888%) in the loss. Boston fell 4-3 (OT) to the Sabres on Saturday. David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, and Patrice Bergeron each scored once for the Bruins.
Pastrnak and Marchand both added an assist to lead the team in scoring. Jeremy Swayman only had 21 saves on 25 shots against (.840%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Bruins won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 6-5 (OT) victory in November. Hampus Lindholm led Boston with four points (1G 3A). Malkin (1G 1A) and Brock McGinn (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Pittsburgh. Linus Ullmark got the win despite saving only 29 of 34 shots (.852%).
FACING OFF
Pittsburgh is averaging 3.33 goals per game for the season, eighth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Bruins team that is allowing just 2.19 goals a game (1st). Meanwhile, Boston has found the net 3.78 times a game on average, second in the league, and the Penguins are allowing opponents to score 3.03 goals per game (16th).
Boston averages more shots/game (34.9) than most teams in the league, ranking third, while the team’s 11.0% shooting percentage is eighth. With an average of 32.2 attempts, Pittsburgh ranks 11th.
The Bruins’ fifth-ranked power play offense (27.61%) will be put to the test against the Penguins, who are the league’s third-best penalty killing team (83.90%).
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has scored on 22.58% of their power play opportunities (16th), which the team will be seeking to build on against Boston’s second-ranked 84.73% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 43 points this season, 10th-most in the NHL, Sidney Crosby is the top skater for the Penguins. He has 19 goals and 24 assists in 36 games. In the net, Jarry (15-4-4) is Pittsburgh’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.77 GAA and a .918% save percentage. Pastrnak leads the Bruins in scoring with 50 points. He has 25 goals and 25 assists in 36 games. Ullmark (20-1-1) is the top goalie for Boston with a goals against average of 1.90, best in the league. He has a save percentage of .938%, also best.
HOME AND AWAY
Pittsburgh is 9-7-2 on the road this season. Boston is 18-0-3 as the home team this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins (+150)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
