Bruins beat Pens 3-1

This was to be a measuring stick game for the Penguins.  The team with the most points in the NHL got a home date against the hottest team, and right now, the best team in the NHL on home ice, the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Boston Bruins.  The Bruins came into the game riding a 13-0-1 streak during which they outscored their opponents 63-26.  That is not a typo.  They have not only won these games, they have dominated them! The Bruins also boasted the league's best goals against average at 2.08 and were second in goals per game at 3.42.  This was to be no easy task, particularly when half of your blue line consisted of players who a week ago were in the AHL, with Bortuzzo playing his 5th NHL game, and Despres, only his third.  Claude Julien knew they were banged up, and he went after them!  After a well played first period by the Penguins blue line, the Bruins were able to pressure the young D into mistakes that resulted in 2 second period goals, and an early third period goal and a 3-0 Bruins lead.  Despite those mistakes, the bigger issue was the fact the Penguins power play killed them.  They could not convert on two 5 on 3 power plays, one that last 1:10, and another, very rare full 2 minute 5 on 3.  Failure to convert on those power plays is just unacceptable and ultimately led to the demise of the Pens in this one.  Matt Cooke finally broke Thomas' shutout bid mid way through the third on a great feed by Joe Vitale.  It was Cooke's sixth goal and twelfth point on the season.  But that was all the Penguins had, and despite outshooting Boston 45-27, they fell 3-1 to the Champs.  Do not let the shot differential mislead you either.  Other than a frantic last half of the third period, most of the Pens shots were perimeter shots that Thomas handled with ease.  Hey, it's a December game, against a great opponent, with half of your blue line on the shelf, and you lost.  No cause for panic. But some negative trends lately include an inablity to convert on 5 on 3 power plays, and a lack of goals from the top 2 lines for 3 full games now, other than a Kunitz marker in the Canes game.  Otherwise, Asham, Adams, and Dupuis have carried the offensive load.........not bad in an occasional game, but not good if it is three games in a row.  It was a bad night for Matt Niskanen, other than his tilt with Marchand, but he has been solid all year, so I am not worried there.  On a positive note, Paul Martin was stellar again, and I feel really good about his game when Z comes back giving the Pens that shutdown pair they thought they had.  Short memory boys, Flyers up next!