Tomasino game-winner, Jarry's 31 saves and more: 3 reasons why Pittsburgh Penguins won 2-1 against Boston Bruins 

The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled out a gutsy 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night at TD Garden.

The Penguins overcame an early deficit to complete the comeback in the third period. Charlie Coyle opened the scoring for the Bruins at 1:24 of the first period. Then, Rickard Rakell tied the game with one second left on the clock in the second period. Philip Tomasino got his first as a Pittsburgh Penguin, registering the game-winner.

Here’s a closer look at three reasons why Pittsburgh defeated Boston on Friday night.

3 reasons why Pittsburgh Penguins defeated Boston Bruins

#3. Penguins' relentless forechecking

Despite giving up the early goal, the Penguins did not stop attacking. The Penguins showed considerable resilience through relentless forechecking. While the Bruins took over during the game at times, the Penguins came back with strong shifts to regain control over the game.

In the end, the Penguins were able to put 36 shots on goal, notching two goals to get the win. Friday night’s game was certainly an encouraging sign as the Pens have struggled to play a full 60-minute game in previous outings.

#2. Penguins played a strong defensive game

The Pittsburgh Penguins played a strong defensive game despite giving up 32 shots. However, the Pens blocked 15 total shot attempts, while going a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. That strong defensive performance bodes well as the Pens have had trouble keeping the puck out of their net.

However, the most encouraging sign was their ability to close out such a tight game. The Pens held on as the Bruins made a late push to tie the game. The Pens held the fort and managed to skate away with a one-goal win.

Friday night’s effort was a step in the right direction after losing back-to-back blowout games against the Winnipeg Jets and the Utah Hockey Club. While the Pittsburgh Penguins won their last game against the Vancouver Canucks, it was a 5-4 affair. As such, keeping the Bruins to just one goal could signal a new trend for the Pens.

#1. Tristan Jarry was brilliant

Tristan Jarry was the story on Friday night as he outdueled Jeremy Swayman for the win. Jarry made 31 saves in keeping the Pittsburgh Penguins afloat. The solid performance earned Jarry the game’s second star.

For Jarry, the strong performance is most welcome as it’s been an up-and-down season for him. He’s now won back-to-back starts, showing what he’s capable of accomplishing.

The Pens won’t get much time to catch their collective breath as they face the Calgary Flames next on Saturday.