Penguins Surprise; Patient and Strong Win Over Big Bruins

BOSTON — Newly acquired Pittsburgh Penguins (9-12-4) forward Philip Tomasino was not shy Friday. He led all players with five shots on goal and netted a beauty midway through the third period for the eventual game-winner.

The Penguins got stellar goaltending, including from defensemen Kris Letang who kicked away what would have been the tying goal with about eight minutes remaining and Erik Karlsson who blocked a sure goal with just under two minutes left. Their penalty kill also survived a high-energy Boston power play in the final six minutes, as the Penguins beat Boston 2-1 at TD Garden.

The Penguins have won two in a row.

It was Tomasino’s first goal as a Penguin and his first this season in his 13th game. He had just one assist in 11 games before the Penguins acquired him for a 2027 fourth-rounder, which originally belonged to the New York Rangers.

Things didn’t start as well for the Penguins as they finished.

Giving up a goal on the first shot of the game has been an extreme anomaly for the Penguins. Six times this season, they’ve allowed a goal on the first shot. They didn’t do that Friday. Nope. It was the second shot.

The Penguins third pair defensemen Jack St. Ivany and Ryan Shea, with center Blake Lizotte, combined to leave Boston center Charlie Coyle uncovered on the right wing while everyone paid attention to puck carrier Trent Frederic, who easily slipped a pass past the puck-gawkers. Coyle had Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry at his mercy and snapped a short-side wristshot for a 1-0 lead at 1;24.

Otherwise, the Penguins and Boston were evenly matched throughout the first period, though Shea and St. Ivany got some extra bench time to think about their mistake.

Jarry stopped the next 30 shots as the teams traded a few chances in the second period but otherwise kept the game more buttoned up than a winter coat during a snowstorm. Neither goalie had to make a second save, though the Penguins had a few clean looks at Boston netminder Jeremy Swayman, including Tomasino‘s first great chance when he had a rebound on his stick with Swayman sprawled on the ice but couldn’t slip it past the goalie.

The Penguins outshot Boston 14-11 in the second period with some late-period pressure before Sidney Crosby finally helped the Penguins crack Swayman. Crosby snared a missed shot off the back wall and circled the net, fooling Swayman. Crosby delivered a soft pass to Rickard Rakell (9) in front for a tally with .8 seconds remaining in the second period.

The biggest action in the game may cost a couple of players a few dollars. Late in the first period, Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov jabbed Evgeni Malkin from the Boston bench. The initial infraction was not seen by most, including referees, but Malkin angrily turned and swung his stick at the Boston bench, hitting Zadorov.

Upon review, referees assessed Zadorov an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Malkin a slashing penalty, and Boston forward Tyler Johnson a tripping penalty.

After 40 minutes, the Penguins allowed just two high-danger chances while garnering nine (according to NaturalStatTrick.com).

Six Bruins players had two shots after two periods, but none had more. While the Penguins had 26 shots, only two players had more than two. Tomasino led all players Penguins with six shots on goal.

Update: Final tallies gave David Pastrnak seven shots, with a few in the final minutes.

Jarry stopped 32 of 33 shots. Swayman stopped 33 of 35 before being pulled for the extra attacker.