Preview: Boston visits Pittsburgh, trying to erase Friday’s blunder of a hockey game

It’s bounce-back time.

By Adam Denhard Apr 25, 2021, 7:00am EDT

Just the facts

When: ‘Tis this afternoon, 3:00PM

Where: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA

How to follow: NBC, TVAS; Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Rival SBN site: PensBurgh

32-14-3, 67 points, first in the MassMutual East division
Sidney Crosby, 8.7 million points. (Actual this season: 20G-35A-55PTS) With a goal last night, Crosby clinched his 16th (SIX TEENTH) point-per-game SEASON, with seven games left to play. This kid might actually be a decent center.
Tristan Jarry, G: 20-8-3, which is solid; 2.79 GAA and .908 Sv% look a little less sturdy.

Boston has had the upper hand in the season series, leading four games to two with two to go (tonight, and last week of the season). However, Pittsburgh has been without the services of Evgeni Malkin, a critical piece of their center structure.
Speaking of Geno, Malkin’s last game was March 16, against these Bruins. The day prior, he had a goal and an assist, though he had no points on Stone Cold Steve Austin Day. It’s yet to be announced if he will suit up for this afternoon’s game, but wouldn’t that be a little bit poetic?
Back to Boston’s... recovery. The Bruins lost in barnburner fashion to the Sabres, already eliminated from contention and (maybe) playing only for their present roster slot. All this in mind, it was always a winnable game; the Bruins just need to get back to basics. Their neutral zone counter-attack was awful, and the Sabres capitalized fairly often in the second and third periods two days ago.

Simple. Effective. Not letting up six goals. These are the keys to this afternoon’s game.