GAME PREVIEW
The Penguins conclude their two-game series against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden. The Penguins are looking for back-to-back wins in Boston for the first time since Apr. 3, 2012 (5-3 W) and Apr. 20, 2013 (3-2 W). The Penguins have points in seven of their last 11 games against the Bruins (5-4-2) dating back to Nov. 23, 2018. Pittsburgh’s 24 wins this season are tied for second-most in the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (25). The Penguins have earned points in 12 of their last 14 games overall (11-2-1).
QUICK HITS
Sidney Crosby has 60 points (15G-45A) in 47 career games against the Bruins, which includes 20 points (4G-16A) over his last 17 contests. No active player in the NHL has more points against Boston than Crosby.
Forward Bryan Rust, who was drafted 80th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, is one point shy of becoming the 21st member of his draft class to reach 200 points. His .58 points per game ranks 15th among all players selected in 2010.
Defenseman Mike Matheson is one point shy of 100 in his career. He’s looking to become the 16th defenseman in the 2012 draft class to reach this milestone.
Defenseman Kris Letang has nine points (1G-8A) over his last 13 games played versus Boston. His 22 career points (3G-19A) are tied for the third-most against the Bruins among all active defensemen.
Zach Aston-Reese tied his single-season career-high (2018-19) in goals with his eighth tally of the season on Thursday night. All eight of Aston-Reese’s goals have come since February 11, the fourth most on Pittsburgh in that span.
DESMITH’S DOMINANCE
Once again, Casey DeSmith turned in a solid performance for Pittsburgh, stopping 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) on Thursday night. DeSmith has had an exceptional season thus far posting a 9-3-0 record, 1.84 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in 14 games. No matter how you look at it, DeSmith has been dominant. He has:
- Allowed just two goals total in his last 212:41 minutes played
- Given up two goals in his last three games
- Given up five goals in his last six games
- Just one loss in his last six starts
Among all goaltenders with at least 10 games played, Desmith ranks first in the NHL with a .933 save percentage, and trails only Colorado’s Phillip Grubauer with a 1.84 goals-against average.
TANEV’S TIMELY RETURN
Pittsburgh’s lineup was “Turbo” charged on Thursday night as Brandon Tanev made his return to the lineup after missing six games due to an upper-body injury. Tanev logged 14:02 minutes and recorded one assist, a team-high five hits and was plus-1 in the Penguins’ 4-1 win.
Today, Tanev is set to appear in his 100th game with Pittsburgh. Since joining the Penguins as a free agent on July 1, 2019, the 29-year old has accumulated 41 points (18G-23A) and a team-leading three shorthanded goals. He’s also registered 382 hits since the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, which ranks third in the NHL during that span.
PLAYER INTERVIEW
Video: Letang speaks with the media
SCORE TRIGGER PROMOTIONS