Pittsburgh Penguins: 2017-18 Atlantic Division Preview

6 of 8

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 26: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta (3) pressures Boston Bruins right wing Jimmy Hayes (11) during a regular season NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 26, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Penguins 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Boston Bruins are another defensive minded team that the Penguins will need to use their best offensive system against. Last season the Pens defeated the Bruins twice in their three matchups.

In their two wins, the Pens topped the Bruins in an overtime matchup and buried them in a 5-1 victory. Pittsburgh’s loss was a 4-3 letdown in Boston, a result of a close game where Boston’s defense prevented the Penguins from tying the game.

The Penguins need to keep using their offensive system to top the Bruins. Pittsburgh is a well-rounded team that is offensively-driven and had very solid blue liners. The Bruins will excel in a game where they can get ahead first, but the Penguins will stay in charge if they control the game.

Offense tops defense and a defensive system team’s first objective is to protect the net, which means they’ll lag behind an offensive team in overtime or high scoring situations. The Penguins need to keep their offense pushing so that the game is always tied or in their favor. Easier said than done, but for a scoring team like the Penguins it is all about knowing when to strike.

Home/Penguins News