Anton Khudobin in net for ‘Providence’ during the black and gold scrimmage (Photo Credit: Steph phillips)

Tonight was a classic showcase of what a team looks like when they push their limits. The Bruins started off tonight’s meeting against Pittsburgh really strong but ended up blowing a two-goal lead in the final six minutes of the game, dropping 3-2 in the first meeting with the Penguins of the season.

Zdeno Chara led the way for the Bruins through the first twenty minutes, showing his team how to get the job done as he hit the puck off of the crossbar and had it bounce down behind Fleury for a mid-period 1-0 lead.  The momentum was going in Boston’s favor as the clock ticked down and Tyler Seguin would put them up by another tally as his line created the infamous triangle. Patrice Bergeron  in all of his perfection received the puck from Marchand in the corner, took a quick look to find Seguin flying into the crease and shot a quick backhand pass over to him which he released quickly and put under the bar glove side.

During the intermission Partice Bergeron participated in an interview with Naoko Funayama in which he told her:

“We’re moving our feet well right now, we’re first on pucks..they’re a good team and we have to make sure we’re using simple plays right now and doing the right thing.”

Through the next fifteen minutes the Bruins were able to dominate the play in their favor, but within the last five minutes or so there was a noticeable tilt as the Penguins began to fight their way back and show their edginess. While the Bruins would hold them off through the remainder of the middle frame and kill off a 5-on-3 opportunity for the Pens, they were visibly gassed heading into the final minutes of regulation.

With 6:18 remaining Penguin Chris Kunitz put Pittsburgh on the board as he received an up ice pass from defenseman Kris Letang and found a way to beat Khudobin to cut the Bruins lead to a mere goal. While it served as determination for the Penguins, the goal completely deflated and already gassed team and 51 seconds later the Penguins Sutter was able to tie the game. While the Bruins have had a tenancy to blow their leads due to cockiness and get lucky with overtimes and/or shootouts, tonight wasn’t the case. They were visibly tired and made poor mistakes that cost them in the end. The most costly coming from defenseman Dennis Seidenberg who passed the puck to the far side where he ‘thought’ he had an open lane and ended up giving the puck to Sutter who skated right in and beat Dobby once more for the go-ahead goal and game-winner.

The Bruins recorded their season-low for shots on net with a mere 16. Their next game isn’t until Thursday night when they take on the Florida Panthers at home in hopes of bouncing back and earning their second win of the season and first at the TD Garden against Florida.