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Preview: Bruins’ offense looks to stay hot as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins

After sweeping one Pennsylvania team, the Bruins look to repeat their fortunes against the other.

By camkerry
NHL: Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Just the Facts

Where: TD Garden

When: 7 PM

How to Watch: NESN, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: Pensburgh

Know Your Enemy

  • 4-2-0, eight points, second in East Division
  • Tristan Jarry: 2-2-0, 4.28 GAA, .849 save percentage
  • Sidney Crosby: 3-4-7 in six games played (Surprise! He’s still very good at hockey)

Game Notes

  • After opening the season by being swept by the rival Philadelphia Flyers, the Penguins have responded nicely by winning their next four contests.
  • Three of their four wins have required extra time, as the Penguins have won two in a shootout and once in overtime.
  • The Bruins went 2-1-0 in the 2019-20 season against the other team that dons the black and gold. A 6-4 Bruins win in early November 2019 was followed by a 4-1 win and a squandered third-period lead that culminated in a 4-3 loss.
  • The Bruins’ offense, which started the season stagnant, is on fire of late. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand both notched two-goal, three-point efforts in Saturday’s destruction of the Flyers.
  • Three of the Bruins’ six goals were scored on the man advantage; the Bruins power play percentage sits at 35.3%, good for fifth in the league.
  • While the Penguins currently sit tenth in the league in Corsi For percentage, goaltending has not exactly bailed them out. Tristan Jarry is last among qualified goaltenders in Goals Saved Above Average, currently at -4.85, according to Evolving-Hockey. Backup Casey DeSmith is seventh to last, at -2.22. Both of those values are worse than their respective Goals Saved Above Expected.
  • Tonight’s contest is the first of eight between the new division competitors and the first of a mini two-game series in Boston.
  • Patrice Bergeron and Matt Grzelcyk both missed practice on Monday, but appear to be OK to play tonight (Bergeron in particular).