PHN Extra: Penguins Analysis & Report Card vs. Boston Bruins

The Pittsburgh Penguins have points in three straight games but are 1-0-2 in those games. Choose to look at the glass half full. Or choose to look at the Penguins struggles because they haven’t beaten an Eastern Conference team in over one month and are 0-7-3 against the Eastern Conference since their Oct. 18 win in Toronto.

Friday night, the Penguins outplayed the Boston Bruins in Boston. But as has been the case too often, the team found a way to lose. Each team had 37 shots, thought Boston controlled the game for big stretches of the third period.

The Penguins did a great job of taking away time and space from Boston. Every puck was contested, every puck carrier was pressured. In fact, each team skated in the back pocket of the other and the Penguins did not take a penalty. The game had a great flow even as the offense came in spurts.

The Penguins attention to defense has been evident. They held a forward high, usually the right side, in their win against Dallas, Wednesday. And the Penguins similarly did not yield odd-man breaks against Boston (If this strategy continues, PHN will do a chalkboard and full examination).

The game became a goaltending duel. Jaroslav Halak vs. Tristan Jarry. Both netminders were fantastic and kept the game close. Halak made 36 saves, Jarry “only” 35.

Penguins Report Card