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DeBrusk Leads Boston’s Third-Period Rally With Two Goals In 2-1 Winter Classic Win Over Pittsburgh

By Harrison Brown·
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins by a score of 2-1 in the 2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park, home of the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, on Monday afternoon. Boston padded their lead on the Carolina Hurricanes for top spot in the Eastern Conference and NHL by six points with both teams having played 37 games this season.

Pittsburgh remains in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference since they have played one fewer game than the New York Islanders (who they are tied with). Pittsburgh is a point behind the the New York Rangers (who have a game in hand) for the first wild-card spot.

The Washington Capitals leapfrogged Pittsburgh in points percentage after they lost (.603-.595) but Pittsburgh has two games in hand.

Boston goaltender Linus Ullmark made 26 saves while Pittsburgh goaltender Tristan Jarry pitched eight before getting replaced by Casey DeSmith (who made 19 on 21 shots-against) 15:30 in due to a lower-body injury suffered from getting hit by left-wing Tomas Nosek’s shot at 13:20.

First Period

Scoring

None

Shots: 14-10 Pittsburgh

Second Period

Scoring

8:40, 1-0 Pittsburgh: Right-wing Kasperi Kapanen one-timed a shot over the glove of Ullmark after left-wing Danton Heinen stripped the puck off Boston defenseman Derek Forbort behind the net and center Jeff Carter fed him.

Shots: 20-19 Pittsburgh (10-5 Boston in second)

Third Period

Scoring

7:46, 1-1: Left-wing Jake DeBrusk swept around the goal mouth and beat DeSmith under the left pad after getting a pass from left-wing Brad Marchand from the right dot down low as a power play expired.

17:36, 2-1 Boston: After center David Krejci led the rush into the offensive zone, left-wing Taylor Hall deked and shot one blocker-side on DeSmith before DeBrusk tucked in the rebound into a wide open net.

Shots: 29-28 Boston (10-8 in the third)

Boston improved to 19-0-3 at home this season. Pittsburgh has lost five straight games (0-3-2).

Scenes From Fenway

By Harrison Brown