Bruins 2, Penguins 0: Tuukka Rask finished with 30 saves as visiting Boston defeated a short-handed Pittsburgh club that made captain Sidney Crosby a late scratch and saw Evgeni Malkin exit with an undisclosed injury.

Milan Lucic scored midway into the first period for the Bruins, who have won five in a row to pull even in points with Washington for the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand. Captain Zdeno Chara added an empty-net tally and rookie David Pastrnak had an assist to join Lucic with a four-game point streak.

Crosby participated in warmups before being scratched due to unspecified reasons and Malkin absorbed a hit from Chris Kelly 1:29 into the contest and didn't return to start the second period. Thomas Greiss turned aside 28 shots for the Penguins, who fell to 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.

The reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Rask preserved his 26th career shutout and third of the season by stopping all eight shots he faced in the third. Chara sealed the win by scoring into the empty net with 38 seconds remaining in the period.

Boston drew first blood for the 11th straight contest as Pastrnak regained possession of the puck after his initial shot was blocked and fed Lucic, who beat Greiss from the inner edge of the left circle at 9:53 of the first period. Lucic's 15th goal held up as Rask made a brilliant toe save on Blake Comeau seven seconds into the second and Nick Spaling hit the post over one minute later.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pittsburgh RW Craig Adams made his way to his team's bench minutes into the first period in place of Crosby. The officials approved the late roster switch, in accordance with Rule 7.1. ... Boston C Ryan Spooner saw his seven-game point streak come to a halt. He collected three goals and five assists during that stretch. ... Pittsburgh D Christian Ehrhoff registered six shots in his return after missing 18 of the last 19 games with concussion-like symptoms. ... Penguins C Maxim Lapierre played in his 600th career contest.