Bruins defeat Penguins to earn two-game sweep, fourth win in row

BOSTON --Patrice Bergeron scored twice, and the Boston Bruins won their fourth straight game, 4-1 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden on Thursday.

Sean Kuraly scored the go-ahead goal, and Jaroslav Halak made 16 saves for the Bruins (5-1-1).
After scoring three goals in their first three games, the Bruins scored 17 goals while sweeping their four-game homestand.
"As a team, we think on the [defensive] side of the puck we've been playing well, and we just wanted to stick with that," Kuraly said. "We know we've got good players, a bunch of talent, goals will come. Sometimes you've just got to tell yourself, 'Stick with it.' And I think that's, as a team, what we've been doing is sticking with it. Our chances are coming, and they're starting to go in a little bit more."
Cody Ceci scored, and Tristan Jarry made 16 saves for the Penguins (4-3-1), who had their five-game point streak (4-0-1) end.
Boston has won 10 straight home games against Pittsburgh, including a 3-2 overtime victory Tuesday in the opener of the two-game set.
"We see Boston, they're faster, they're hungry and they win every battle in the corners," Penguins center Evgeni Malkin said. "… We need just to look in the mirror and fight every shift. It's not a pretty game right now. … We need to try to play simple and need to just work, work, work."
Chris Wagner put Boston ahead 1-0 at 6:10 of the first period. He intercepted a clearing pass up the middle and scored from the high slot.
Ceci tied it 1-1 from the top of the slot at 15:03 after winning the puck along the right boards. It was the defenseman's first goal with Pittsburgh.

Kuraly put the Bruins back ahead 2-1 at 18:53 when Anders Bjork's shot deflected off his right leg. The goal was originally credited to Bjork but was quickly switched to Kuraly.
"It was an ugly one, so I didn't even know if I wanted to take credit for that one," Bjork said. "But it was good. I mean we made some good plays. I think in weird ways you get paid off for that."
Kuraly's goal was the second goal from Boston's fourth line in the game.
"I was happy for them," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "They're well liked in the room, and when those guys score I think it always lifts the bench."
Bergeron made it 3-1 at 8:13 of the second period with a backhand after his one-timer from the slot was blocked.

Bergeron scored a power-play goal at 1:40 of the third period on a one-timer set up by Brad Marchand for the 4-1 final.
The Penguins outshot the Bruins 6-4 in the third.
"Listen, we knew the game, the way the game was going to be played," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "Boston's a good team, they defend hard, we knew that going in. We have to play every bit as stingy a game on the defensive side of the puck and we didn't. And then we've got to work for the opportunities that we get. I think we need an element of simplicity with our offensive game. I don't think we're putting nearly enough pucks in play that give our guys opportunities for next-play chances, whether it be off a rebound or a deflection and things of that nature."
NOTES: Pittsburgh's last win at Boston was 3-2 in overtime Nov. 24, 2014. … Penguins defenseman Kevin Czuczman played 12:41 in his first NHL game since April 13, 2014, with the New York Islanders. … Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who had an assist, did not play in the third period because of a lower-body injury. He missed the previous two games because of a different lower-body injury. … Boston forward Par Lindholm played 12:55 in his season debut.