Ha ha, time for Bruins!
Just the facts
When: Today, 3 PM
Where: PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
How to follow: ABC, ESPN+, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective: PensBurgh
Know your enemy
- 24-28-9, 57PTS, last in the Metropolitan Division
- Sidney Crosby: 18G-43A-61PTS; Rickard Rakell: 25G-24A-49PTS; Erik Karlsson: 8G-35A-43PTS
- Alex Nedeljkovic: 12-11-5, 3.22 GAA, .891 save percentage
Game notes
- Get stoked, folks! The Bruins are back in action, in what’s sure to be a not-at-all frustrating, definitely-not-tearing-your-hair-out afternoon.
- The Bruins and Penguins are in somewhat similar situations, in that both likely thought prior to the season that they’d be in a better place on March 1. Instead, both are outside of the playoff picture and playing pretty dreadful hockey, so…at least they’ve got that in common.
- The Penguins beat the B’s 2-1 at TD Garden in their only other meeting this season, with that one coming way back in November.
- The Bruins, as you’re all well aware, have lost five games in a row, with two of those losses coming beyond regulation. The Penguins won last time out, beating the Flyers in OT after coming back from being down 3-0 and 4-1. Prior to that game, the Pens had lost four games in a row, all in regulation.
- In that OT win over the Flyers, Alex Nedeljkovic got pulled after the Pens fell behind 3-0, and wasn’t shy about showing his displeasure at the hook. While “I’m really mad, watch me slam the door” doesn’t really change anything, it probably wouldn’t hurt to see someone on the Bruins show some kind of emotion as the season slips away.
- Trent Frederic will be out this weekend and beyond, officially termed “week-to-week.” I’d venture a guess that his status won’t change his trade value and that he’s likely played his last game for the B’s.
- Matt Poitras returned to practice on Friday and appeared no worse for the wear after leaving Thursday’s loss following a weird bench door collision.
- In case you missed it on Friday, the B’s made a series of roster moves. Oliver Wahlstrom cleared waivers and was assigned to Providence, as were Michael Callahan and Riley Tufte. In their place, the B’s recalled Georgii Merkulov, Jeffrey Viel, and Ian Mitchell.
- David Pastrnak extended his point streak to 16 games on Thursday, as he continued carrying the unconscious collective body of this team on his back. In doing so, he tied Robert Lang and Jaromir Jagr for the longest-ever point streak by a Czech player, which is pretty cool.
- Imagine how far down the standings the Bruins would be without Pastrnak? Yikes!
Well folks, let’s all have fun out there and if nothing else, don’t let a hockey game ruin your weekend.
Optimism is high, as you can tell.