The Penguins' 1-0 victory against Boston Sunday proved that they can play effective team defense against a quality opponent.
The challenge now, beginning with a rematch with the Bruins tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena, is to show that they can replicate that performance on a regular basis during the stretch drive and playoffs.
"We were pleased with the effort that we had," Mike Sullivan said after the Penguins' game-day skate today. "We thought it was one of our more complete games, on both sides of the puck. That's the type of game we have to put on the ice consistently if we're going to win at this time of year. Especially against a team as good as Boston.
"We have to make sure we put a game on the ice that gives us a chance to win, regardless of who our opponent is. I think that was the blueprint for that type of game."
The Penguins' defensive commitment severely restricted the number of quality scoring chances the Bruins generated Sunday.
And while the Penguins managed only one goal, that modest output did not reflect the number of opportunities they had, particularly on odd-man breaks.
"I thought we created offense from playing hard defense," Marcus Pettersson said. "We don't have to take chances to create offense."
Playing the way they did -- and the success it spawned at both ends of the ice, as well as on the scoreboard -- could provide the kind of positive reinforcement that will convince the Penguins that the physical and mental demands of doing so are worth the effort.
"It's a mentality," Evan Rodrigues said. "It's a will, and a want to do it. Playing that way still led to us getting a lot of odd-man chances, a lot of scoring chances. Just because you're playing with a defensive mindset doesn't mean you're not getting (offensive) chances."
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Sullivan said Tristan Jarry will be in goal for the Penguins. Tuukka Rask is scheduled to start for the Bruins.
• Injured forwards Brandon Tanev, Evgeni Malkin and Frederick Gaudreau worked out on the ice before the skate, and the latter two participated in the skate in limited capacities. Sullivan confirmed that none of the injured players will be in the lineup tonight, but said all continue to progress. "I think (Malkin) is looking stronger and stronger," Sullivan said. "I think Freddy is starting to look stronger, as well. ... We're real encouraged by the progress these guys are making."
• Sullivan, on Kasperi Kapanen's play since returning from a 13-game absence: "(Kapanen) has brought a lot of energy. I think he's excited to be back in the lineup. His speed is such. threat, in so many different ways. ... He just makes us a deeper team. He makes us, I think, a more dangerous team, offensively."
• Personnel combinations today:
Guentzel-Crosby-Rust
McCann-Carter-Zucker
Aston-Reese-Blueger-Kapanen
Sceviour-Jankowski-Rodrigues
Dumoulin-Letang
Matheson-Ceci
Pettersson-Marino
Riikola-Ruhwedel