Penguins' surging power play to face Bruins' NHL-best penalty kill

Chris Adamski, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg
·2 min read

Mar. 31—Join the conversation

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have as many power-play goals over their past three games (five) as they had over the course of their first 12 games of the season. The five power-play goals they had in three wins over a recent five-day span were more than they managed during the entire month of February (four).

The current run of five over three games matches the most over a span that short since they had six over three games from March 10-14, 2019.

But maintaining that run won't be easy. The Penguins' next two games are against the team with the NHL's best penalty-killing unit, the Boston Bruins.

"They do a great job of pressuring," defenseman Mike Matheson said of a Bruins' penalty kill that has an 89.5% success rate this season. "They have guys that have done it for a long time and have great instincts on the PK, so I think every time we get a (power-play) chance, it all comes down to out-working them."

The Bruins have allowed only one power-play goal against in 16 opportunities over their past six games. They have not allowed more than a single PPG in any of their past 28 games, killing 89.7% of opposing chances in that time.

"They do a lot of things well. That's why they're the top penalty-killing unit in the league," Sullivan said.

Boston's No. 1 PK center, Patrice Bergeron, is second in the NHL in faceoff win percentage overall (61.9%) and while short-handed (61.5%).

The Bruins also are tied for second in the NHL in short-handed goals (five).

The Penguins are 1 for 17 against the Bruins on the power play this season.

"They're a good shot-blocking team, they make good decisions, they're a pressure kill and so we are going to have to be at our best," Sullivan said. "It's going to boil down to effort and execution, as it always does. ... We've got to take what the game gives us. We've got to think about shooting the puck when the opportunity presents itself and then creating from there.

"It will be a big challenge for us, no doubt."

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.

Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .