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Pens eye return to win column vs. Bruins

Nov 25, 2013 - 4:08 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to get back in the win column when they visit the Boston Bruins for Monday's matchup between first- place teams.

The Penguins had won three straight before dropping a 3-2 regulation decision Saturday in Montreal, but they'll aim to get back on track against Boston.

Although Pittsburgh was swept out of the conference finals last spring by Boston, the Penguins grabbed the first meeting of the 2013-14 season series by downing a visiting Bruins team on Oct. 30. Jussi Jokinen's goal late in the third period proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 decision, as the Pens won their seventh straight regular-season game against Boston.

Pittsburgh also has claimed six in a row in Beantown, not including the playoffs.

The Penguins fell behind 3-0 in Saturday's game against the Canadiens and couldn't recover. James Neal scored twice in the third period for Pittsburgh, but the club was never able to catch Montreal.

Carey Price made 29 saves for Montreal, while Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots for the Penguins, who were looking to equal a season high with a fourth consecutive win.

"Price was the difference," said Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma. "We had some flurries around his net, but he was strong."

Pittsburgh fell to 5-6-0 on the road this season. The Metropolitan Division leaders have done most of their damage in the Steel City, where the Pens are sporting a 10-3-0 mark in 2013-14.

The Pens will host Toronto on Wednesday before kicking off a three-game swing Friday at Tampa Bay.

The Bruins, meanwhile, are 1-0-1 so far on a three-game homestand and the club is boasting a 7-1-1 record over their last nine trips to the ice.

Boston, which leads the Atlantic Division, earned an overtime win in its last outing. David Krejci notched the game-winner 1:28 into the extra session to lift the Bruins to Saturday's 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

On the deciding goal, Jarome Iginla split two defenders between the circles and got goaltender Cam Ward to commit before dishing to the slot for Krejci, who waited for Ward to dive back to the net before roofing the disc.

"I didn't really know what to do at first, but then I found a way to get it past (Ward)," Krejci said of his game-winning goal.

Zdeno Chara and Reilly Smith each scored once for the Bruins, who received 22 saves from Chad Johnson.

Iginla, who played for Pittsburgh when the team was swept by Boston in last season's playoffs, has four goals and nine assists in 23 games this season. The former longtime Calgary Flame chose the Pens over Boston at last season's trade deadline, but then opted to sign a one-year deal with the Bruins over the summer.

The 36-year-old Iginla had a goal in the loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 30 and has recorded eight markers and 13 points in 19 career games versus the Pens.

Boston will return to No. 1 goaltender Tuukka Rask in Monday's game. He is 1-5-0 with a 2.70 goals against average in six games against the Penguins, while Fleury is 11-5-2 with a 2.18 GAA in 19 outings versus Boston.