Jake Guentzel scored in the third period and goaltender Tristan Jarry stopped all 30 shots he faced Sunday as the Pittsburgh Penguins edged the visiting Boston Bruins 1-0.
Pittsburgh (32-14-3) leapfrogged Washington into first place in the East Division with its fourth straight win and fifth in its past six games.
Boston (27-14-6), fourth in the East, missed a chance to move to within three points of the Penguins and one of the New York Islanders. The Bruins lost their second straight game following a season-best six-game winning streak.
It was Jarry’s first shutout of the season, the sixth of his career and his first against the Bruins. He has won his past four starts and is 6-0-1 in his past seven.
The Bruins, still easing No. 1 goaltender Tuukka Rask back after an injury, gave Rask the full day off. Instead, they gave rookie Jeremy Swayman the start, with Jaroslav Halak dressing as the backup.
The 22-year-old Swayman, who had won five of his first six starts with a shutout, made 28 saves.
The teams meet again Tuesday.
Boston captain Patrice Bergeron, who missed his team’s previous game because of an injury apparently related to blocking a shot, was considered day to day. He was upgraded on Sunday to a game-time decision pending the pregame warmup and was able to play, resuming his regular spot centering the top line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
The teams, who could well end up meeting in the postseason, engaged in a playoff style game — fast-paced but strong defensively.
Each team rang up 10 shots in the first, and Boston held an 11-8 edge in the second.
Pittsburgh finally broke the ice at 4:03 of the third. Sidney Crosby was carrying the puck deep on the left side when he went against the grain and fed Guentzel at the near dot. Despite coverage by Boston defenseman Mike Reilly, Guentzel got off a high one-timer that sailed far side over Swayman’s glove.
It was Guentzel’s team-leading 21st goal but his first after a six-game lull.
–Field Level Media