BOSTON — Newly acquired Pittsburgh Penguins (9-12-4) forward Philip Tomasino was not shy Friday. He led all players with five shots on goal and netted a beauty midway through the third period for the eventual game-winner. The Penguins got stellar goaltending, including from defensemen Kris Letang who kicked away what would have been the tying goal with about eight minutes remaining and Erik Karlsson who blocked a sure goal with just under two minutes left.
Their penalty kill also survived a high-energy Boston power play in the final six minutes, as the Penguins beat Boston 2-1 at TD Garden. The Penguins have won two in a row. It was Tomasino’s first goal as a Penguin and his first this season in his 13th game.
He had just one assist in 11 games before the Penguins acquired him for a 2027 fourth-rounder, which originally belonged to the New York Rangers. Things didn’t start as well for the Penguins as they finished. Giving up a goal on the first shot of the game has been an extreme anomaly for the Penguins.
Six times this season, they’ve allowed a goal on the first shot. They didn’t do that Friday. Nope.
It was the second shot. The Penguins third pair defensemen Jack St. Ivany and Ryan Shea, with center Blake Lizotte, combined to leave Boston center Charlie Coyle uncovered on the right wing while everyone paid attention to puck carrier Trent Frederic, who easily slipped a pass past the puck-gawkers.
Coyle had Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry at his mercy and snapped a s.