Slumping Pens shut out; Recchi gets 900th assist

BOSTON (AP) — Ex-Penguin Mark Recchi knows Sidney Crosby too well to think that his current slump might be a long-term condition.

“It’s just one of those things where he’s in a rut right now,” Recchi said after tallying his 900th career assist in the Boston Bruins’ 3-0 victory over Pittsburgh. “It won’t be very long he’ll be in it, I know that. He’s a great player and when they break out, they can go the opposite way, and everything they touch turns to goals.”

Crosby recorded only two shots and was held without a point for the fifth straight game — four was already a career worst — and the Penguins were shut out for the second game in a row. Pittsburgh has not scored in 149 minutes, 9 seconds and has lost three straight games — all away from home — after opening the season 7-0 on the road.

“We’ve got to find a way to score some goals,” Crosby said. “That’s the way it’s been going the last week or two for us. It’s been a long road trip, longer when you don’t win.”

Tim Thomas stopped 27 shots for his second shutout of the season and the 14th of his career to pass Andy Moog for 10th on the Bruins’ list as Boston won consecutive games for the first time all season.

Matt Hunwick backhanded a rebound under the crossbar, then had to wait 77 seconds for a whistle so NHL officials could consult a video replay and give Boston the goal. Daniel Paille scored his first goal with the Bruins, and Patrice Bergeron added a short-handed empty-netter with 3.5 seconds left.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for the Penguins, who are in their longest losing streak of the season and their longest since Dan Bylsma took over as head coach on Feb. 15 and led them to the Stanley Cup championship.

But Stanley Cup playoffs MVP Evgeni Malkin is out with an injury, along with Kris Letang, Sergei Gonchar and Tyler Kennedy. The Penguins also lost former Boston College defenseman Brooks Orpik in the first period to an unspecified injury.