Penguins Demolished by Bruins After Quiet Trade Deadline

PITTSBURGH – With the trade deadline in the rearview, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned their focus to playing meaningful hockey for the final 20 games of their schedule. Despite their poor positioning, the Penguins still want to keep their playoff hopes alive. Their first test comes against the Boston Bruins.

In a game being multi-cast on Disney Channel, the Penguins and Bruins were facing off in the second annual “Big City Greens Classic.”

First Period

Newcomer Michael Bunting took no time in making his presence felt, picking up a couple of shots on goal in the opening minutes. Bunting didn’t score, but he shifted the early momentum in the Penguins' favor.

That momentum didn’t translate much as neither team capitalized on an early go-ahead goal, and the first period ended with no goals to speak of.

Second Period

The Penguins opened the second period with a brief power play opportunity but couldn’t take advantage of the extra ice. The Bruins followed their successful kill with the game’s first goal. A shot from David Pastrnak near the blue line beat Alex Nedejkovic cleanly.

The Bruins held their lead for a good chunk of the period, then added to it on their second power play chance of the period. Now, down 2-0, the Penguins had a mountain to climb.

Bruins captain Brad Marchand scored on a nifty backhand to inch closer to history with the 399^th goal of his career.

Now carrying a 3-0 lead, the Penguins extended their goalless drought well past 100 minutes, their longest stretch of the season.

Third Period

It didn’t take too long for the Penguins to end that drought, as a blast from Kris Letang got the Penguins on the board. A face-off win from Sidney Crosby reached Letang, who put home a perfectly placed slap shot.