Penguins unable to end skid at Winter Classic against Bruins

BOSTON -- In the end, the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic did not provide the breath of fresh air the Pittsburgh Penguins were seeking.

Playing outdoors in optimal conditions at Fenway Park on Monday, the Penguins lost their fifth straight game,
2-1 to the Boston Bruins
.
Pittsburgh has lost by one goal three times during the skid (0-3-2).
"There's a fine line between winning and losing," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.
Pittsburgh was unable to protect a one-goal lead in the third period, when Boston forward Jake DeBrusk scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 2:24 remaining.
"It comes down to subtle details, some timely plays," Sullivan said. "That was the way the game went."
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The Penguins (19-12-6) received a lift from two unlikely sources; goalie Casey DeSmith stopped the first 15 shots he faced after coming off the bench at 15:30 of the first period, when starter Tristan Jarry sustained a lower-body injury, and forward Kasperi Kapanen made it 1-0 with his first goal in 12 games at 8:40 of the second period.
But Pittsburgh couldn't find another goal, and forward Evgeni Malkin scored just after the final horn sounded, adding to the frustration.
"We get a couple of chances, and we don't extend our lead," Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said. "They hang around and get a goal. Then, it's next goal wins from there, and they got it. Ideally, we would have found a way to extend our lead."
DeSmith, a New England native (Rochester, New Hampshire), allowed a wraparound goal by DeBrusk at 7:46 of the third, shortly after Pittsburgh killed a penalty. DeBrusk scored the decisive goal on a rebound at 17:36 after Bruins forward Taylor Hall's backhand was denied by DeSmith's left pad.
"He played unbelievable," forward Jake Guentzel said of DeSmith. "It's a tough situation to come into like that, but he played an amazing game. Gave us a chance to win. Disappointed we couldn't get it done for him."

Though frustrated with the result, the Penguins had reasons for optimism.
"I thought we played a pretty solid game today, to be honest," Kapanen said. "Just that third period at the end there, if you give them chances, they're going to score. They're a good team. There's a reason why they're first in the League (29-4-4). But for the most part, I thought we were the better team."
Better for stretches of the game but not good enough to win, again.
"The skid and obviously it's a big stage, a big game, kind of a unique one, so we obviously want to win that one," Pittsburgh forward Teddy Blueger said. "You look back on it, and it would be a way better memory if you were to win. I think when you take that and add the streak we're on right now, it makes it very frustrating."
NHL.com independent correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report