Pittsburgh, PA

David Krejci netted two goals while Tuukka Rask recorded a 29-save shutout to carry the Boston Bruins to a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals at CONSOL Energy Center.

With his two-goal output, Krejci raised his playoff total tally to seven and a League-best 19 points this postseason. He now has 45 points in 45 playoff games.

Nathan Horton completed the rout with his sixth goal of the postseason on top of two assists for the Bruins.

Rask, for his part, tallied his first postseason shutout as the Bruins seized home-ice advantage in this best-of-seven series. Game 2 will be played Monday at CONSOL Energy Center.

Tomas Vokoun tallied 27 saves for the Penguins, who were blanked for the first time in 96 games. Heading into this game, Pittsburgh was averaging 4.27 goals through their first 12 Stanley Cup Playoff game. Pittsburgh was last blanked by Toronto on Feb. 1, 2012.

Krejci scored the game's first goal at 8:23 of the first period, capitalizing on a counterattack. He took a pass in the high slot from Nathan Horton and hesitated as Pittsburgh defenseman Paul Martin slid to the ice to block the potential shot.

Instead, Krejci's low shot hit the top of Martin's skate and changed direction just enough to ricochet past Vokoun and across the goal line for a 1-0 lead.

Krejci's goal held through two periods, marking the first time Pittsburgh has trailed after two periods during this postseason.

Krejci doubled Boston's lead 4:04 into the third period after Horton forced a turnover on the forecheck.

Vokoun initially stopped Krejci's original wrister but not control the carom. Krejci then beat everybody to the loose puck and pushed it across the goal line.

Horton capped Boston's three-goal night by scoring at 7:51.

 

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David Krejci, Tuukka Rask Lift Bruins Past Penguins in Game 1