Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It’s St. Patrick’s Day, but the tradition of the Boston Bruins playing a home game on this fun day has been broken as they’re in the Steel City today to face the Pittsburgh Penguins again.
The last time these two teams met, the Bruins held a lead for much of the game, but got too comfortable, rested on their laurels and let the Penguins creep back into the game, eventually taking a 3-2 win. But the Bruins are hoping to change the game in today’s nationally-televised 12:30 p.m. matinee.
First of all, both teams played yesterday, so neither has the advantage of a day off before today’s game. Second of all, yesterday’s matinee for the Bruins may have been their finest full-game effort so far this season. Aside from a small lapse in the second period, Boston scored at least once every period, got in some spirited fights and just ran the table of the 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals.
However, the Penguins are also looking to put up a full 60 effort–and they’re especially good at scoring in the third period of games, outscoring their opponents nine goals to nothing in the last period. Yes, nine to nothing. They’re also coming off a 3-0 shutout win, their eighth victory in a row, and looking for number nine. Meanwhile, the Bruins are perfect in matinee games to date this season and looking to increase that perfection.
Zdeno Chara and Tyler Seguin scored last time these two teams met and Anton Khudobin was in net, but seeing as he played yesterday, Tuukka Rask will probably get the nod today. It’ll be his first time facing Pittsburgh since 2011 and his career record against the Pens isn’t the best, but he’s well-rested and ready. The top line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton were excellent yesterday, so can they keep up that pace?
Today is Andrew Ference‘s 34th birthday and Boston’s eco-friendly warrior will actually be playing the team that drafted him in the late stages of the 1997 draft. That little fun fact will most likely be mentioned on air.
Today’s game can be seen on NBC starting at 12:30 p.m.
Emma Harger is an NHL Senior Writer for RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter, like her on Facebook and add her to your network on Google.
