Bruins 3 - 1 Penguins
Final
  for this game

Bruins visit Penguins in battle of Eastern heavyweights

Dec 5, 2011 - 3:40 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Bruins haven't lost in regulation since October and the defending Stanley Cup champions will try to continue their amazing run tonight, when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center.

The Bruins have won 13 of their last 14 games, posting a 13-0-1 record since losing to Montreal in regulation on Oct. 29. Boston had a 10-game winning streak snapped with a shootout loss to Detroit on Nov. 25, but the Bruins have recorded victories in three straight entering tonight's tilt.

Boston's is coming off a home-and-home sweep of the rival Toronto Maple Leafs. The B's won a 6-3 decision Wednesday in Toronto and then notched a 4-1 win in Saturday's home portion. David Krejci and Nathan Horton each posted a goal and one assist to lift the Bruins past the Maple Leafs in the finale at TD Garden.

Chris Kelly and Johnny Boychuk also lit the lamp for the Bruins.

"During November, we played really well," Boychuk said. "We just needed to make sure we started off December the same way."

Tuukka Rask won for the fourth time in his last five starts by making 21 stops. No. 1 netminder Tim Thomas is expected to be back between the pipes tonight.

Tonight marks the first of two straight on the road for Boston, which is 6-2-0 as the visiting team this season. The Bruins will close the brief swing tomorrow night in Winnipeg.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is leading the East with 36 points -- three more than Boston -- and has won two straight and four of its last five contests.

Craig Adams recorded a goal and an assist as the Penguins edged the Carolina Hurricanes, 3-2, on Saturday. Arron Asham and Pascal Dupuis also tallied for Pittsburgh, while Brent Johnson stopped 30-of-32 shots in the win.

Johnson, who has started just seven games this year, stood tall in net to preserve the win for Pittsburgh down the stretch as the Hurricanes could not capitalize on a three-man advantage in the final minutes. After two penalties by the Penguins, the Hurricanes pulled goaltender Brian Boucher to make it a 6-on-3 situation.

"You don't see 6-on-3s that often," Johnson said. "Just an excellent effort from our guys."

The Penguins completed a four-game road trip on Saturday and will be home for just one game before leaving for away games against the New York Islanders and Philadelphia. Pittsburgh is 8-1-2 on home ice this year.

Tonight marks the first of four meetings between the Pens and Bruins this year. Pittsburgh won the last two encounters to split the 2010-11 season series and has won five of the last seven matchups overall. Boston has won two straight in Pittsburgh after losing the previous three meetings in the Steel City.






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