Crosby scratched, Malkin hurt in Pens loss

PITTSBURGH — Being oblivious probably wasn’t the worst thing for Tuukka Rask. It took the Boston goalie a while to notice that the opposing Pittsburgh Penguins were playing without Sidney Crosby.

“I didn’t know Crosby wasn’t playing until five minutes left in the first,” Rask said Saturday after he stopped 30 shots in a 2-0 victory over the Penguins.

“I wasn’t paying attention and then I started looking for him and he wasn’t out there.”

It was Rask’s third shutout of the season, 26th of his career and first against Pittsburgh.

Left winger Milan Lucic scored in the first period and defenceman Zdeno Chara added an empty-net goal for the Bruins.

They won their fifth game in a row and moved to 7-0-1 in their past eight as they attempt to move out of a wild card in the Eastern Conference and into the top three in the Atlantic Division.

With 82 points, they are three back of third-place Detroit in the division.

Crosby, who leads the Penguins with 70 points, skated in the pregame warm-up before being a late, surprise lineup scratch.

“I would say it’s not an injury,” Penguins coach Mike Johnston said.

“He didn’t get himself injured in the warm-up. He just wasn’t feeling well and went to see the doctors.”

Pittsburgh also played most of the game without its other star centre, Evgeni Malkin, who limped to the dressing room after being hit by Boston left winger Chris Kelly 1:29 into the first period.

Malkin returned and played 4:15 in the first period, then sat out the remainder of the game.

Johnston did not specify the nature of Malkin’s injury, but he said Malkin and Crosby “might be able to play” Sunday against Detroit.

Johnston noted that Pittsburgh’s power play, which was 0-for-3 with four shots, was particularly impacted by the absence of Crosby and Malkin.

“They’re a different team when those two guys are missing,” Rask said.

“Makes my job easier, I guess.”