Jarry Remains Unbeatable, Crosby Scores #499, Penguins Survive Bruins 4-2

BOSTON — Three goals in eight minutes. The Pittsburgh Penguins overcame another sluggish start and heavy Boston Bruins pressure with three unanswered goals in the second period. Tristan Jarry was unbeatable again and the Penguins beat the Boston Bruins 4-2 at TD Garden on Tuesday night.

“They got saves, we didn’t. That’s my take,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said.

Sidney Crosby is now just one goal short of his 500th career tally. Midway through the second period, Bryan Rust heeled a shot into a yawning cage but gathered his mistake and fed Crosby (13), who lit the lamp with a tight-angle wrister for another Penguins power-play goal and a 3-2 lead.

Crosby’s marker was the game-winner. Bryan Rust (15) added the empty netter.

The Penguins have 18 power-play goals in their last 17 games and are converting at a rate over 33% in that time.

Early in the second period, Danton Heinen scored two goals in 28 against his former team. Mike Matheson created a turnover at center ice, which sprung Brock McGinn and Heinen on a two-on-one. McGinn let Heinen (10) finish, and the winger swept across the crease with a backhand deke.

Less than 30 seconds later, Heinen’s wrister from behind the dot caught Jeremy Swayman high on the chest. Swayman couldn’t keep the shot, and it bounced over his shoulder into the net.

Tristan Jarry, the winning goaltender in last weekend’s NHL All-Star Game, saved the Penguins bacon later in the second period. Boston fired 18 shots, most in the second half of the period, but Jarry nullified a few Penguins mistakes.

Swayman was recalled after the All-Star break to make the start as the Bruins shut down starter Tuukka Rask for at least a week. Our colleagues at Boston Hockey Now confirmed on Tuesday night that Rask would retire after a setback in his comeback attempt.

The Bruins claimed a 2-0 lead in the first period.

The first tally was a Bruins power-play goal. A failed clearing attempt or pass by Penguins defenseman John Marino gave the Bruins an extra puck in the offensive zone. Taylor Hall zipped a cross-slot pass for David Pastrnak (23) to one-time it past Jarry.

Marino tried to imitate his hometown hero Bobby Orr in the third period when he danced through the Bruins defenseman for a short breakaway, but Swayman made the save.

Hall and Pastrnak teamed again later in the first period after Penguins defenseman Kris Letang pinched but fanned on a shot. Boston counter-attacked three-on-one. Jarry stopped Hall’s wrister, but Pasternak (24) swatted the rebound out of the air and past Jarry.

Boston had more offensive chances or was at least close to a lot of chances. Through 40 minutes, Boston outshot the Pittsburgh Penguins 35-18.

Bryan Rust had a painful night. In the second period, he left the ice after Boston defenseman Connor Clifton drilled him with an open-ice hit. Rust returned, only to be hit by a shot later in the period. He was injured, though likely bruised.

Tristan Jarry stopped a season-high 43 of 45 shots. Swayman only saw 25 shots.

Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was injured in the third period when he tangled with Crosby. Bergeron tripped into the boards and didn’t return to the game. Brad Marchand took 12 minutes in penalties in the final seconds, including a few actions that the NHL Department of Player Safety may look at for supplemental discipline. Marchand punched Jarry well after the whistle and jabbed him in the face with his stick. Marchand was given a match penalty and two for roughing.