PITTSBURGH (AP) – Evgeni Malkin scored his 1,100 on a power play. Career point and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Monday night.
Malkin is the third Russian-born player to score 1,100 points in the NHL along with Alex Ovechkin and Sergei Fedorov. Malkin has eight goals this season and also had an assist on Monday as he extended his points stretch to eight games.
“I think Geno is a guy who relies so heavily on his confidence and he puts a lot of pressure on himself to aggressively produce for our team,” said Penguin trainer Mike Sullivan. “When a couple of pucks hit the net and he gets scoring chances, you can see his confidence build and his game usually follows.”
Tristan Jarry made a season high of 42 saves in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby scored his eleventh goal of the season and had two assists, and Jake Guentzel also scored his eleventh goal – four of them in their last four games. Evan Rodrigues also scored for the Penguins, who won their sixth game in a row.
Matt Grzelcyk scored a power play goal for the Bruins, who have recorded four wins in their last 13 games. Boston started the season and won five out of six on the road, but it has only got one win in their last six away games.
“In a game like tonight we got almost 50 shots,” said Bruins forward Brad Marchand. “It feels like every mistake goes into our net, but that just means we have to clean up our game a bit.”
Jaroslav Halak made 22 saves in his fourth consecutive start. Bruins’ # 1 goalkeeper Tuukka Rask traveled with the team and was on the ice after skating on Monday morning but is not expected to play on Tuesday. Rask has missed the last four games with an unknown injury.
Pittsburgh were leading 2-1 when Malkin scored at 11:40 in the second half. He took a cross-ice pass from Crosby and hit Halak with a glove-sided wrist shot.
“That was a big goal for us as the game progressed,” said Sullivan.
Grzelcyk opened the gate for Boston with a power play goal at 6:47 a.m. in the first half, but Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead with two late goals 1:43 apart in the first half.
Rodrigues connected it at 4:51 p.m. and Crosby put Pittsburgh in the lead at 6:34 p.m. of the first half. The captain of the penguins took a pass from Güntzel and hit with an acute angle from the goal line, which pressed between Halak’s glove and the post.
MALKIN STRIKES HIS MILESTONE
Malkin became the 64th player with 1,100 points. He is the fifth active player in the league and the third in team history to reach the mark, after Hall of Fame team owners Mario Lemieux and Crosby. Malkin was the 18th fastest player to accomplish the feat in his 935th game.
Malkin has scored four goals and 12 points in his last eight games. In his first 20 games, he scored only four goals and 12 points.
“If he goes like this, there’s not much you can do to stop him,” said Crosby. “The way he’s wearing the puck, he’s really confident.”
WHERE IS THE VIOLATION?
The Bruins continued to fight offensively. Boston finished with 43 shots, 20 of them in the first period, but only one goal. David Pastrnak had a chance to make it a one-goal game in the third half, but sniffed an open net during a power play.
The Bruins have scored 31 goals in their last 13 competitions and 20 goals in their last 10 games. Boston recently played six games, allowing one goal or less, making it the second longest stretch in team history, one game behind the club’s mark in the 1928–29 season.
“You generated enough to win the hockey game. You have to finish, ”said Bruins trainer Bruce Cassidy. “I worry more if you don’t generate. If we keep generating, I think there will be enough talent to score goals. “
CROSBY WITH THE ASSIST
Crosby became the 22nd player to play 200 or more multi-template games, putting him in a duel with Doug Gilmour and Bobby Clarke for the 20th most multi-template games in NHL history.
He has four goals and 11 points in his last seven games.
SULLIVAN MOVES TO THE SECOND
Sullivan recorded his 232nd victory, which made Eddie Johnston the second highest in franchise history.
Sullivan succeeds Dan Bylsma, who is the first in franchise history with 252 wins. Sullivan’s profit share is also the second best in team history.
NEXT
The penguins and bruins will meet again on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The penguins are in the middle of a phase in which they will play five games in seven days. The Bruins are on a four-game road trip to a five-game homestand.
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