PITTSBURGH ( Associated Press) — Casey DeSmith scored a career-high 52 saves and Jake Guenzel scored three goals as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Boston Bruins 4-0 on Thursday night.
Gwentzel completed the hat-trick with a blank-netter, his 40th goal of the season, as Pittsburgh moved two points ahead of Washington for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins, Bruins and Capitals have already secured a playoff spot, but are fighting for seeding in the Eastern Conference. There are 99 points between Pittsburgh and Boston.
Jason Zucker also scored for the Penguins, who have won three out of five losing streaks in four games. The Penguins suffered a 2-1 loss in Boston on Saturday.
Jeremy Swimman made 28 saves for the Bruins, ending their two-game winning streak. Boston has lost five out of eight total.
Desmith’s shutout was his third of the season and ninth overall. With Tristan Jerry week after week with a lower body injury, Desmith is likely to remain Pittsburgh’s starting goaltender in the playoffs.
Guenzel opened the scoring at 7:49 of the first period. He hastily shot him in the wrist from the slot between Swaman’s pads.
Boston beat Pittsburgh 10-0 in the first six minutes of the second period, but the Penguins extended their lead on their first shot. Jeff Carter made a one-touch redirect pass from the neutral zone to Spring Zucker, who beat Swayman with a wrist shot toward the glove. It was his fourth goal in eight matches.
Late in the second, Gwentzel made it a 3–0 game. After the Bruins were cheap in their own field, Chris Letang sent a cross-ice pass to Gwentzel, who beat a giant Swain high.
Desmith stands tall
Desmith made his second straight start and finished fourth in five games with Jerry.
His previous career best was 48 saves off 51 shots during the December 2018 home win over Boston.
Desmith was quick with a bunch of Brines in the early parts of the second period and Pittsburgh took a 1–0 lead. He was equally impressive in the third that the Penguins were ahead by three goals. The Bruins had a 15-6 advantage in shots and two power plays during the first 10 minutes of this period.
Gentzel’s Landmark
Guenzel crossed the 40-goal mark for the second time in his career.
He became the eighth player in franchise history to score 40 or more goals in as many seasons with the team. Only Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin have achieved this feat since the turn of the century.
Gwentzel has 81 points, topping 80 for the first time in her career. Since 2005–06, only Crosby, Malkin and Phil Kessel have reached 80 points with Pittsburgh.
HEALING UP
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said several injured players could be close to making a comeback.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark (unknown) could play in one of the Bruins’ two weekend games, Cassidy said, adding that if forward David Pasternak (upper body) and defenseman Hemps Lindholm (lower body) are not in Sunday’s lineup, they may Tuesday is back.
Pasternak led the Bruins with 38 goals. Lindholm, a top-four defender, was acquired in a March trade with Anaheim, and Ullmark have 23 wins. Pasternak missed his eighth straight game, while Lindholm missed his sixth and Ullmark lost his third game.
Boston has scored two goals or less in each of their last seven games and has not scored on the power play in nine games, a 0-for-29 stretch.
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Bruins: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
PENGUIN: In Detroit on Saturday.
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