Brad Marchand caps Bruins' four-goal second period in 6-4 win over Penguins

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brad Marchand scored short-handed to cap Boston's four-goal second period, and the Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 on Saturday night.

Pavel Zacha had a goal and an assist, and Jake DeBrusk, Kevin Shattenkirk, Danton Heinen and Morgan Geekie also scored as the Bruins regained the top spot in the Atlantic Division with their fifth win in six games. Linus Ullmark finished with 28 saves.

Michael Buntin scored twice, Drew O'Connor had a goal and an assist, and Bryan Rust also scored for the Penguins, who lost in regulation for the first time in 11 games (7-1-3). Alex Nedeljkovic was pulled after giving up three goals on 16 shots midway through the second period. He was replaced by Tristan Jarry, who stopped 12 of the 14 shots he faced.

The Penguins fell out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and now trail Washington, Detroit and Philadelphia by one point.

After O’Connor scored short-handed for Pittsburgh at 4:32 of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3, Geekie got his 17th of the season with 5:50 left to restore a two-goal lead.

Heinen added an empty-net goal with 2:47 remaining to seal the Bruins' win.

Boston got rebound goals from DeBrusk and Zacha 14 seconds apart in the second period to take a 2-0 lead at 8:22. Zacha's goal was his 20th and DeBrusk got his 19th.

Rust cut Pittsburgh’s deficit in half when he redirected O’Connor’s pass behind Ullmark 2:05 later for his career-high 28th.

Boston regained its two-goal advantage as Shattenkirk — back after missing three games as a healthy scratch — chased Nedeljkovic from the game with 8:25 left in the second for his sixth.

Marchand scored a short-handed goal on the first shot Jarry faced, giving Boston a 4-1 lead with 5:06 left in the middle period.

However, Bunting scored on the power play from the top of the crease 58 seconds later to get the Penguins to 4-2.

Penguins D Erik Karlsson became the 398th player in NHL history, and 46th active, to skate in 1,000 career games. Karlsson, who split his career between Ottawa, San Jose and Pittsburgh, is the 18th Swedish-born player to reach the milestone and he has 814 career points, ninth-most by a defenseman. During pregame warmups, the Penguins all wore Karlsson’s No. 65 jersey. Before the game, Karlsson, on the ice with his family, was presented a silver hockey stick and other gifts commemorating the accomplishment and a video tribute aired with comments from Daniel Alfredsson, Joe Thornton and others.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Visit Washington on Monday night.

Penguins: Host Nashville on Monday night.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Boston Bruins' goaltender Linus Ullmark makes a glove save against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) puts a glove to the face of Boston Bruins' Jesper Boqvist (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) makes a save against Boston Bruins' Pavel Zacha, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan stands behind the bench during the first period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) scores against Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Ryan Shea (5) reaches for the puck as Boston Bruins' Andrew Peeke (52) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) shoots as Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy (73) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery calls out instructions to the team during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk (74) returns to the bench after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Boston Bruins' Pavel Zacha (18) returns to the bench after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi left Thursday's 6-0 win over Washington with right groin tightness and will get an MRI on Friday.

Eovaldi threw a 94 mph fastball to Luis Garcia Jr. for strike one after issuing a one-out walk to Nick Senzel while holding a 3-0 lead. Eovaldi then turned and faced the outfield. He was visited by manager Bruce Bochy and head trainer Matt Lucero and left for the dugout.

"I went to throw it, and I kind of felt it,” Eovaldi said. "The initial thoughts that went through my head were I can call out the training staff, then maybe get the two warmup throws just to kind of check it out and stuff, but they wanted to play it safe and take me out of the game."

“We’ll see how it feels (Friday). Just play it safe. Again just trying to be smart with this, not push it.”

“He may need some rest,” Bochy said. “That’s what we’re going to find out. We’ll take care of him and do what’s right.”

Eovaldi limited the Nationals to two hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings while throwing 92 pitches — 13 short of his season high. He struck out eight batters for the fourth time this year, his season high.

Eovaldi went 12-5 for Texas last season, tying for the team lead in wins as the Rangers went on to win the franchise's first World Series title. Signing as a free agent in December 2022, he was Texas' No. 1 starter for much of the season after 2023 acquisitions Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer were sidelined with injuries. DeGrom and Scherzer have yet to pitch this season.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) walks off the field with pitching coach Mike Maddux, left, and head athletic trainer Matt Lucero, center, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Eovaldi left the game with an unknown injury. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, left, stands on the mound with catcher Jonah Heim as they wait on head athletic trainer Matt Lucero during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Eovaldi left the game with an unknown injury. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi leaves Thursday's game with right groin tightness

Texas Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi tosses the rosin bag as he walks behind the mound before throwing to Washington Nationals' Luis Garcia Jr. in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Eovaldi left the game with an unknown injury in the inning. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi leaves Thursday's game with right groin tightness