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Boston Bruins

Bruins rally comes up short to Penguins in 6-5 barnburner

By Matt Dolloff
Jan 4, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Drew O'Connor (10) scores a goal past Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

If scoring is your thing, TD Garden was the place to be on Thursday night. But unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, their Thursday night slobberknocker did not go their way, as the Pittsburgh Penguins handed them a 6-5 loss in a back-and-forth goal feast.

The Bruins only held a lead after captain Brad Marchand’s opening goal just 41 seconds into the first period. The Penguins would score twice to take their first lead, and the Bruins were chasing from there. After the dust settled on a wild six-goal first period, the Pens held a 4-2 lead. They then built a 5-2 advantage in the second, only for the Bruins to score three unanswered to tie it back up at 5-5 in the third period.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby potted the eventual game-winning goal on a third-period power play, off a hooking penalty called on Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy.

David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie tied for the Bruins team lead with three points each (1 goal, 2 assists), while Marchand scored twice. For the B’s, it’s just their eighth regulation loss of the season, as they dropped to 23-8-6 on the season.

If you’ve got some time to watch some highlights, we’ve got all 11 goals from Bruins-Penguins for you to watch below…

WATCH: Bruins-Penguins Highlights

The Bruins actually got this barnburner rolling, as Marchand gained inside position at the net and buried a rebound to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal since Dec. 19 for Marchand, but he does have at least one point in five of his last six games.

  • The Bruins’ only lead of the night was short-lived. Pittsburgh’s Drew O’Connor tied 1-1 it less than five minutes later with a rebound goal of his own.

  • Things very quickly went from bad to worse for the Bruins in the first period. Just 1:13 after O’Connor’s goal, Ryan Graves’ point shot glanced off Charlie Coyle’s stick and tumbled through traffic all the way into the net to give the Pens a 2-1 lead.

  • And yet, the Penguins’ first lead of the game was gone just 22 seconds later. Newly announced All-Star David Pastrnak scored the tying goal after receiving a heads-up pass from Hampus Lindholm, then showing great hands and patience to deke and backhand the puck around Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic to tie the game 2-2.

  • Not to be outdone, Penguins winger Jake Guentzel got his team back on top a mere 42 seconds after Pastrnak’s goal. Guentzel’s 18th of the season completed a dizzying sequence of four goals in a span of 2:17.

  • The Penguins still weren’t done in the opening period. Lars Eller joined in on the scoring barrage with a goal on a tough-angle shot, giving the Pens a 4-2 lead that they would take to the intermission after a wild opening 20.

  • Jeff Carter really put the Bruins in a hole at the 6:38 mark of the second period. Carter whacked home the loose puck just after the conclusion of a Penguins power play, with a goal scored as an even-strength tally, putting Pittsburgh up 5-2.

  • Just over three minutes later, the Bruins began to mount their comeback. Morgan Geekie started it off by finishing a cross-ice feed from Pastrnak to chip away at 5-3.

  • Brandon Carlo scored the next one to make it a one-goal game. Carlo’s bomb from the point, his third goal of the season, cut the deficit to 5-4.

  • Marchand got the equalizer just over three minutes into the third period – and did it shorthanded. Marchand’s 34th career shorthanded goal tied him with Marian Hossa, Pavel Bure, and Derek Sanderson for 11th most in league history (h/t Ty Anderson). Amazingly, it was the first goal of the game scored outside of even strength.

  • Crosby’s go-ahead goal came just six seconds into a Penguins power play. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy had just been called for hooking.

    Up Next: The Bruins will stay in Boston, as they get ready to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in an always-big Atlantic Division matchup on Saturday night.

    Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.

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