Bruins make unfortunate history in shutout loss to Penguins
The Bruins made some unfortunate history Thursday night in Pittsburgh, as the team landed 52 shots on the Penguins’ Casey DeSmith but found themselves shut out by the night’s end in a 4-0 loss to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.
The loss marked the first time in Bruins history that the team had been shutout despite an effort of at least 50 shots on goal, and beat the previous high, which came in 48-shot shutout loss to the Wild in 2012. And Boston’s 52-shot shutout loss gives the Black and Gold the fifth-most shots on goal in a shutout loss in league history. Overall, it was just the 11th time in league history that a team has been shutout despite landing at least 50 shots on goal.
Most shots in shutout loss
— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) April 22, 2022
1. 59 (Sharks vs. EDM, Jan. 29, 2014)
2. 54 (Blackhawks vs. COL, Jan. 6, 2015 and Blue Jackets vs. ARI, Apr. 3 2012)
4. 53 (Islanders vs. FLA, Mar. 2, 2008)
5. 52 (Bruins vs. PIT, Apr. 21, 2022)
Boston’s punchless attack was paced by a team-leading eight shots on goal from Brad Marchand, and with linemate Jake DeBrusk directly behind him with five shots on DeSmith. In fact, every Boston skater finished Thursday’s loss with at least one shot on goal, and all but three finished the night with multiple shots on net.
But the Bruins failed to make DeSmith sweat nearly enough, as the Pittsburgh netminder had more than enough time and space to see the shots coming his way, with the B’s unable to park themselves in the high-danger areas in front of the net.
In net, the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman stopped 28-of-31 in a losing effort.
Pittsburgh’s offense was powered by Jake Guentzel’s hat trick, but it was the Jason Zucker goal in the second period that really seemed to deflate the club, as it made it a 2-0 edge for the Pens and came on Pittsburgh’s first shot of the period after the Bruins opened the middle frame with 10 straight shots on goal.
With the loss, the Bruins failed to make up any ground in the Atlantic Division, but will remain two points ahead of the Capitals for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Bruins will return home for a Saturday afternoon tilt with the Rangers, with puck drop set for 3:00 p.m.
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Bruins.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
