Bruins score eight against Penguins

BOSTON --David Krejci had his fourth NHL hat trick, and David Pastrnak scored twice to help the Boston Bruins to an 8-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden on Thursday.
It was the most goals the Bruins have scored this season, and the most since they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-0 on March 19, 2012.

Rick Nash, David Backes and Torey Krug scored, and Tuukka Rask made 22 saves for the Bruins (39-15-8), who have won their past two games and are 4-2-0 in their past six. Boston moved one point ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division.
WATCH: [All Penguins vs. Bruins highlights]
Krejci's night was exactly what the Bruins planned for when they acquired Nash in a trade from the New York Rangers on Feb. 25 and put him on a line with Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.

"[Krejci's] now got two wingers that have similar traits that he seems to excel with," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "And Nash is a good defensive player, so he will help whatever center he plays with and kill some plays in the zone because of his reach and his hockey IQ. So, it's been a good marriage so far."
Olli Maatta had two goals, and Phil Kessel and Riley Sheahan scored for the Penguins (36-25-4), who have lost three straight (0-3-0) after a six-game winning streak. Pittsburgh is two points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Penguins have allowed 17 goals during their losing streak.

"I think it's more of an attention to detail and a commitment to play the game hard," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought tonight we played a team that won more puck battles, that was more diligent with the details of the game, and we have to be better."
Maatta scored on the first shot of the game 35 seconds into the first period for a 1-0 lead.
Krejci tied the game 1-1 at 1:45 after Nash made an end-to-end rush and passed to the front for a tip-in. Pastrnak gave the Bruins the lead 2-1 with a wrist shot at 2:53.
After Nash scored on the power play at 5:27 to make it 3-1, the Penguins pulled Casey DeSmith and replaced him with Tristan Jarry. DeSmith made two saves, and Jarry made 28.
Kessel scored to make the score 3-2 at 9:27, but Backes scored off a Pittsburgh giveaway at 12:49 to make it 4-2.
Krug scored on a one-timer from the left point at 16:07 for a 5-2 lead.

Sheahan scored with three seconds remaining to make it 5-3.
Krejci scored on the power play at 2:16 of the second period to make it 6-3 and got the hat trick on the power play at 14:33 to extend the lead to 7-3.
Pastrnak scored at 17:42 on a tap-in to make it 8-3.
Maatta scored at 5:15 of the third period on a shot from the point to cut the lead to 8-4.
"It was one of those games we didn't really do well in any area, didn't deserve to win," Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. "There's not much to say about it."

Goal of the game

Krejci's goal at 1:45 of the first period.

Save of the game

Rask's save on Kessel at 10:01 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Krejci's goal at 14:33 of the second period.

They said it

"We've all got to be better. I've got to do a better job as their coach to make sure that the details, the focus that's necessary to play the game, is there. I know we're a good hockey team when we play the game the right way. But I think that the reality is there's a fine line between winning and losing. There's a lot of good teams in this league, and they play with structure, they play hard, and we just didn't get it done tonight." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan
"Awesome, you know, so happy for him. Rick [Nash] is a great player and a big body, you know. So, he gives a lot of space and ice for [Krejci] ... and [Krejci] is an unbelievable player. So glad that those two guys are finding chemistry the past couple games and we got to just keep getting better." -- Bruins forward David Pastrnak

Need to know

Maatta has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past seven games. ... Krejci's last hat trick was March 4, 2014, against the Florida Panthers. ... Bruins forward Brian Gionta had two assists in his Bruins debut. He signed with Boston as a free agent Sunday. His first assist was the 300th of his NHL career.

What's next

Penguins: Host the New York Islanders on Saturday (5 p.m. ET; ATTSN-PT, MSG+, NHL.TV)
Bruins: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday (5 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, NESN, NHL.TV)