Bruins get win in Pittsburgh

In Pittsburgh, the Boston Bruins’ Tuukka Rask made 25 saves  in a 3-1 win on Tuesday night over the Penguins.

The win helped the Bruins stay four points ahead of the New York Rangers, who defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 3-1, on Tuesday.

“There was a lot to like tonight from everybody to be honest with you,” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We played a good, determined game. … Our top guys did the finishing tonight. Our bottom guys did a lot of the dirty work, the grunt work. The physicality, it’s a good formula for us.”

Jeff Carter scored the lone Pens goal.

“I think when the stakes are high like this, both teams have a lot on the line,” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan said. “Boston, obviously, give them credit. They had a strong response game. They played hard. … I don’t think we were at our best, but having said that, I thought we were competing. But we were right there.”

David Krejci  picked up a goal and two points in the win; his goal broke a scoreless tie late in the middle frame.

“We addressed some things before the game,” Krejci said. “Obviously, we know where we’re at in the standings, what’s going on around us. We talked about some stuff. For the most part, we stuck to the game plan and did exactly what we talked about.”

Taylor Hall and Brad Marchand pushed the lead to 3-0 in the third period.

The Bruins hold two games in hand over the Rangers.

“I think these past couple games have been playoff-type hockey,” Rask said. “Both teams have been defending. The ice, it’s tough to get out there. There’s no space to make fancy plays too much. I think you have to be patient. I think today, we played a smart and patient game. We got rewarded.”

Carter broke up the shutout bid with his goal at 17:39 of the final frame.

Tristan Jarry made 28 saves in the loss.

“I think you have to make life a little more difficult for [Rask],” Pittsburgh’s Bryan Rust said. “You have to try to score some ugly goals, whether it goes off a shin pad or you get a rebound, or things like that. I think we can do a better job of that.”