Bruins-Penguins Preview
Share This Story
Losing the reigning Hart Trophy winner for an extended period of time is never ideal, but the Pittsburgh Penguins seem equipped with enough weapons to make the absence of Evgeni Malkin relatively painless.
The Boston Bruins are ready to test that theory.
Pittsburgh looks to win a sixth straight game Tuesday night by earning a fourth consecutive victory over visiting Boston, which has earned at least a point in 11 of its 12 road games.
Malkin suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over Toronto, and he's expected to miss at least a week.
The Penguins (18-8-0) didn't miss him the following night, when Chris Kunitz registered his second hat trick this season while adding a pair of assists in a 6-1 win over the New York Islanders.
Sidney Crosby, who leads the NHL with 45 points, had five assists to give him a league-best 33.
''I get to play with the best player in the world every night,'' Kunitz said of Crosby, who centers their line that also includes Pascal Dupuis. ''It makes going out and playing a lot of fun.''
Kunitz, who leads the league with a plus-21 rating, is having a breakout season with 17 goals and 19 assists and has scored a goal in six of his last seven games. He has 10 goals and five assists in that stretch and ranks behind only Crosby and Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos (37) in points.
''The way Kuni's firing the puck right now, he makes all of us look good by putting the puck in the back of the net,'' Crosby said.
James Neal extended his goal-scoring streak to four Sunday and has 17 on the season, and Dupuis scored twice to extend his own streak to three.
The Kunitz-Crosby-Dupuis line has accounted for 24 goals when playing together - more than any line in the league.
''We want to make sure that we're producing,'' said Crosby, who has five goals and 15 assists during an NHL-best nine-game point streak. ''We found a way to take advantage of our chances. It's something we want to keep doing.''
Crosby has three goals and three assists during Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak over Boston, which also will be seeking to end the Penguins' four-game run at home.
The Bruins (17-3-3) improved to 9-1-2 on the road with a 3-2 shootout victory over Ottawa on Monday after falling behind by two goals early. Shawn Thornton and Daniel Paille scored in regulation, and David Krejci added the shootout winner for Boston, which has won three straight overall.
Krejci also assisted on Paille's goal.
''David's a disher and David did what he had to do. He put it right on the tape and Dan took care of the rest,'' coach Claude Julien said.
Tuukka Rask made 30 saves for his second shutout, but backup Anton Khudobin could get the start in net Tuesday in the second of a back-to-back. Khudobin is 4-1-0 with a 2.41 goals-against average and has stopped 45 of 49 shots while winning his last two starts.
Marc-Andre Fleury should get the start for Pittsburgh, but he's 2-1-0 with a 4.43 GAA over his last four starts, also getting pulled after giving up four goals in the first period of Thursday's win over Philadelphia.
Fleury, though, is 6-2-0 with a 1.75 GAA in his last eight starts versus Boston.
Related Stories
Trending Now
-
Tiger, Sergio are both chicken
Neither Sergio Garcia nor Tiger Woods did anything to promote better race relations. ... -
Teen strangled by dog lead
A Kentucky high school football player known as a "jokester" was strangled by a dog l... -
O'Grady sorry for using term 'colored'
The head of the European golf tour apologized Thursday for using the term ''colored''... -
A-Rod a budding real estate mogul?
Injured Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez already rakes in more dough than any pla... -
Swim coach sentenced for sex abuse
A Virginia man who was once one of the nation's most prominent swimming coaches has b...
NHL Videos
Highlights: BOS/NYR - Game 4
Posted: May 24, 2013
Watch highlights of the Rangers' 4-3 OT win over the Bruins.
Watch highlights of the Rangers' 4-3 OT win over the Bruins.
Howard on Gordie Howe visit
Posted: May 24, 2013
Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard talks about his Game 4 shutout and post game visit...
Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard talks about his Game 4 shutout and post game visit...
Tortorella gets testy
Posted: May 24, 2013
Rangers coach John Tortorella gets fired up following New York's playoff win ove...
Rangers coach John Tortorella gets fired up following New York's playoff win ove...
NHL Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reebok Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Premier Hockey Jersey - Black | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Pittsburgh_Penguins/browse/featuredproduct/175178/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_175000/FF_175178_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins Premier Hockey Jersey - Black |
| Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Dallas_Stars/browse/featuredproduct/243363/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_243000/FF_243363_xl.jpg&w=100 | 124.95 | Reebok Dallas Stars White Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Tampa_Bay_Lightning/browse/featuredproduct/301017/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_301000/ff_301017_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Reebok Tampa Bay Lightning Primary Logo T-Shirt - Royal Blue |
| Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Anaheim_Ducks/browse/featuredproduct/398322/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_398000/FF_398322_xl.jpg&w=100 | 43.99 | Majestic Anaheim Ducks Black Official Logo Full Zip Hoodie Sweatshirt |
| Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Detroit_Red_Wings/browse/featuredproduct/403205/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_403000/FF_403205_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Detroit Red Wings Youth Black Southpaw Backpack |
| Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Blackhawks/browse/featuredproduct/408123/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_408000/FF_408123_xl.jpg&w=100 | 159.95 | Reebok Chicago Blackhawks #88 Patrick Kane Red Premier Hockey Jersey |
| Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_Jersey_Devils/browse/featuredproduct/456774/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_456000/ff_456774_xl.jpg&w=100 | 47.99 | Majestic New Jersey Devils Red Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
| Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Vancouver_Canucks/browse/featuredproduct/665779/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_665000/ff_665779_xl.jpg&w=100 | 11.95 | Vancouver Canucks 2011 NHL Western Conference Champions Hockey Stick |
| Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Islanders/browse/featuredproduct/752594/source/foxsports_prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_752000/ff_752594_xl.jpg&w=100 | 47.99 | Majestic New York Islanders Royal Blue Felt Tek Patch Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.