Streaking Penguins aim to remain hot against Bruins (Dec 14, 2016)

PITTSBURGH -- The Boston Bruins needed overtime Monday to beat Montreal 2-1 and break a three-game losing streak. If they want to keep the winning going, they might well need a lot more than two goals Wednesday to solve the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins have been nearly unstoppable during a six-game winning streak. They have scored 35 goals during that stretch.

"We hope we can continue to just try and play the game the right way. I think when we do that we have some talented guys that can finish," said Mike Sullivan, who celebrated his one-year anniversary as Pittsburgh's coach Monday with a 7-0 thumping of Arizona.

"We're finding offense throughout our lineup, and that's what's helping us win games."

The Penguins have won in different ways lately -- by blowout, by comeback, with even-strength goals, with power-play tallies -- and their offense has overshadowed some solid defensive efforts. During the six-game winning streak, opponents have managed just 14 goals.

"The message we continue to preach to them is to make sure we create our offense off our defense and we don't become a chance-for-chance team because it's hard to sustain winning when you play that way," Sullivan said.

Still, it's the goal count that stands out.

"We showed how well we can put the puck in the net," Penguins goaltender Matt Murray said after earning his second shutout of the season against the Coyotes.

The usual suspects have been present and accounted for. Sidney Crosby leads the NHL with 21 goals (in just 23 games). Evgeni Malkin (32 points) and Phil Kessel (31 points) are among the league leaders. Kris Letang (19 points) is holding his own among defensemen.

But it hasn't been just the stars. Fifteen players, including members of all four lines plus the defense, have contributed to the 35 goals during the streak.

The Bruins might be a little envious of that as they game-plan for Wednesday.

"We need to be a team where we're not going to be looked that if you shut down this line then they're done," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "I want us to be a team that spreads the goal-scoring around."

And that might lead to more goals, period.

The Bruins scored just six goals during their three-game losing streak. Before that, they won three in a row and needed just eight goals to do that. Pittsburgh nearly reached that total in Monday's game alone.

Boston has relied heavily on goaltender Tuukka Rask, and he has delivered. He is 15-5-2 and among the league leaders in goals-against average (1.80), and save percentage (.932).

To help find Rask more goal support, Boston shook up its line combinations before its win Monday.

"I think sometimes the changes can create some excitement," Julien told the Bruins' website. "It's not the first time, probably won't be the last time that we've changed."

While the new look netted just two goals -- both from third-liners Austin Czarnik and Ryan Spooner -- it was enough for a win.

"It (wasn't) working the way it was. What do you have to lose?" David Backes told the team website.

"We can talk about it until we're blue in the face. It's about going on the ice and getting the job done, doing what we need to do to get to those hard areas and score goals."