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Sturm lifts Bruins; Penguins' Hossa injured

Feb 29, 2008 - 4:40 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins may have spent the week adding their pieces for a playoff run, but they ran into a red-hot Boston Bruins team that seems to be clearing out anything in its path.

Marco Sturm scored twice in the first period to put the Bruins on top, and they never looked back en route to a 5-1 victory on Thursday and spoiling the Penguins' debut of Marian Hossa.

"Our guys have just pulled together," said Boston coach Claude Julien, who has seen his team win five straight games and earn 13 out of a possible 14 points in its last seven contests. "We're definitely playing with some emotion, playing with some purpose."

The loss on the ice may be the least of the worries for Penguins general manager Ray Shero.

Already playing without captain Sidney Crosby, Shero may have lost key acquisition Hossa after just 10 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time.

Acquired in a deadline trade for right wing Colby Armstrong, center Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito and a draft pick, Hossa suffered a strained MCL in his right knee after colliding with Glen Murray in the second period. He will be re-evaluated on Friday.

"It is disappointing," Hossa said. "Especially after the way we started. I felt comfortable with my linemates. We had some good shifts at the start. But unfortunately this is the business we are in and injuries happen. It's just tough luck."

"I remember him yelling, 'Ouch, ouch, ouch,' after we collided," Murray said.

Sturm struck for his first goal less than 10 minutes into the game as he tipped home a Chuck Kobasew drive from the top of the left circle.

Typical of a Bruins team that is playing with fantastic chemistry, Sturm refused to speak about his own play, choosing instead to focus on the total effort.

"We are going to the harder, causing traffic and forcing rebounds," Sturm said. "It's just working out for us."

He beat goaltender Ty Conklin again just 2:18 later with a hard slap shot from the left side. Rushing down the left wing, Sturm caught Conklin leaning to the short side and slipped the puck just under the glove for his team-leading 22nd goal of the season.

"I saw Marco skate as well as he has all year," Julien said. "Those are the kinds of things we know he is capable of doing and the kind of things we need from him."

The suddenly offensive-minded Bruins then added to their lead. Captain Zdeno Chara blasted a slap shot past Conklin to end a miserable night for the NHL's leader in save percentage.

"I don't get into the habit of rationalizing poor performances," said Conklin, who finished with 10 saves - two nights after recording a career-high 50 saves on Tuesday to defeat the New York Islanders.

"If you start a game, you expect to play well every time regardless of what has happened the night before or even the week before. But these nights happen for teams and players. The important thing is getting an opportunity to bounce back quickly."

Conklin was relieved by Marc-Andre Fleury, who hadn't played for Pittsburgh since December 6.

And while Conklin might have been done for the night, the Bruins weren't. P.J. Axelsson beat Fleury in front to push the lead to 4-0.

Pascal Dupuis, who was also included in Hossa deal, ended All-Star goaltender Tim Thomas' bid for a shutout by scoring his 11th of the season with just under seven minutes to play.

David Krejci capped the scoring with his second tally of the campaign with 2:11 remaining in the third period.

His goal was the icing on the cake for fans who had just seen a prolonged fight between rookie Milan Lucic and Jarkko Ruutu. The fight lasted 1:40 and ended with Lucic skating around the ice waving his hands at the crowd.

"I saw Shawn Thornton do that a couple of times earlier this year and it got the crowd into it," Lucic said. "So I just figured, 'Why not?'"