Penguins Fall to Bruins Despite Late Surge

Coach Dan Muse critical of team's slow start despite improved play

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Penguins fell to the Boston Bruins 2-1 on Tuesday night at TD Garden, despite a strong effort in the final two periods. Penguins coach Dan Muse was critical of the team's slow start, saying they can't be satisfied with a good effort when they walk away without a point. The Penguins have struggled against tight-checking teams like the Bruins and Ottawa Senators in recent seasons, and this game continued that trend.

Why it matters

The Penguins are a top team in their division, but have had trouble solving the defensive-minded Bruins and Senators in recent years. This loss highlights the need for the Penguins to find ways to generate more offense and overcome these types of opponents, especially as the playoffs approach.

The details

The Penguins fell behind 2-0 early but mounted a strong push in the final two periods, outshooting the Bruins 35-27. They created several clean breakaway opportunities but were unable to beat Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the team's lone goal and was a standout performer, registering six shots and 16 shot attempts. However, the Penguins struggled in the faceoff circle, winning just 16 of 48 draws.

  • The Penguins fell behind 2-0 in the first 6 minutes of the game.
  • Karlsson scored the Penguins' goal in the opening minute of the game.

The players

Dan Muse

Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Erik Karlsson

Defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored the team's lone goal in the game.

Jeremy Swayman

Goaltender for the Boston Bruins who made 34 saves to lead his team to victory.

Stuart Skinner

Goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins who made 26 saves in the loss.

Kris Letang

Veteran defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I mean, it got better. But we're walking out of here without a point. This time of year, you can't walk away and say, 'Hey, it's OK, it was a good effort.' We didn't start the way we wanted to. We've gotta find ways to generate more. We had missed opportunities. Even when we did get in the offensive zone, just to be able to extend plays, to get to the net-front. And look, we're going to have more games like this down the stretch, tight-checking games. It gets harder and harder from this point out. I think we've gotta take some things from this game, learn from them and learn from them quick.”

— Dan Muse, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins (dkpittsburghsports.com)

“Yeah, after the first 10 minutes, I felt we were just able to get our legs underneath us. We started giving our push, and it was a really good response from the first 10 minutes that we played. As a group, we should be proud of how we played tonight. Yeah, we just need to start a little bit better.”

— Stuart Skinner, Goaltender, Pittsburgh Penguins (dkpittsburghsports.com)

What’s next

The Penguins will look to bounce back in a three-game homestand against the Sabres, Flyers, and Bruins again.

The takeaway

The Penguins' struggle against tight-checking, defensive-minded teams like the Bruins and Senators is an ongoing issue that the team needs to find a way to overcome as they push towards the playoffs. This loss highlights the need for the Penguins to start games stronger and find ways to generate more offense against these types of opponents.