Bruins 1, Penguins 0: Tuukka Rask turned aside 26 shots and defenseman Adam McQuaid snapped a scoreless tie 5:01 in the third period as host Boston advanced to its second Stanley Cup final in three years by completing a sweep of top-seeded Pittsburgh.
Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron notched an assist apiece to extend their respective point streaks to three games for the fourth-seeded Bruins, who will face the winner of the Western Conference final between Chicago and Los Angeles. The Blackhawks lead that series 3-1 and - should they advance - would set up the first Stanley Cup matchup pitting Original Six rivals since 1979, when Montreal defeated the New York Rangers.
Tomas Vokoun finished with 23 saves for the Penguins, who mustered just two goals en route to being swept for the first time in 46 playoff series. The last time they were swept was, ironically, by Boston in 1979. Captain Sidney Crosby and reigning Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin were held without a point in the series.
An exhausted Marchand remained on the ice as Boston completed a line change in the third period. The pesky forward then slid a pass from the left-wing boards to McQuaid, who skated into the puck and unleashed a shot which deflected slightly off the stick of Pittsburgh's Jarome Iginla and over the glove of Vokoun. The goal was the 15th by a Boston defenseman in the playoffs.
After stopping 29 shots in Game 1 of the series, Rask preserved his second career postseason shutout by denying Iginla from the high slot as time expired.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Both teams nearly opened the scoring in the second period - only to be denied by a post. Boston LW Kaspars Daugavins, who was replacing injured fourth-line C Gregory Campbell in the lineup, skated in from the left faceoff circle, but his shot caromed off the left post. Pittsburgh RW Pascal Dupuis also hit the iron from in close during the waning moments of the session. ... Campbell will miss the remainder of the postseason after breaking his right leg while blocking Malkin's shot during a penalty kill in Game 3. With crutches by his side, Campbell watched Friday's tilt from the press box. ... Both teams continued to struggle on the power play. The Penguins, who went 0-for-3 on Friday, finished 0-for-15 in the series, while the Bruins failed to score on three opportunities and ended 0-for-13 in the matchup. ... Hall of Famer Bobby Orr and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz were in attendance.
Pittsburgh | Boston | |
N/A | Points | Adam McQuaid 1 |
N/A | Goals | Adam McQuaid 1 |
N/A | Assists | Patrice Bergeron 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Tomas Vokoun .958 | Save Percentage | Tuukka Rask 1.000 |
Tomas Vokoun 23 | Saves | Tuukka Rask 26 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Pittsburgh | 26 | 0 | 0-3 | 3-3 | 8 | 28 |
Boston | 24 | 1 | 0-3 | 3-3 | 8 | 31 |