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Bruins’ Chara not giving away the ‘game plan’ against Penguins

Boston Bruins vs Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 17: Zdeno Chara # 33 of the Boston Bruins skates away from Pascal Dupuis # 9 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period on February 17, 2013 at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Vincent Pugliese/ Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zdeno Chara; Pascal Dupuis

Vincent Pugliese

Just how are the Boston Bruins going to slow down Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins?

It’s a really good question, and be sure the Bruins have formulated a plan.

Are they going to tell any of us what it is prior to its deployment? Apparently not.

“I’m not talking about what the game plan is. Sorry,” said Bruins’ captain Zdeno Chara, as he spoke to reporters Friday, prior to Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final against the Penguins.

The challenge facing the Bruins - the 2011 Stanley Cup champions - is shutting down the highest scoring team in these playoffs.

Two years ago, they kept the Vancouver Canucks in check on their way to the ultimate championship.

The Penguins are averaging 4.27 goals per game in these playoffs, and Crosby is atop at the top of the league in goals and not far off the league lead in points.

Perhaps the key to shutting down the Penguins will be the ability for Bruins’ coach Claude Julien to match lines, especially on the road.

That’s easier said than done.

“Sometimes you have to have trust in your lines that they can do the job and then we have seen that on our team where our fourth line has been paired up against the other team’s top line,” said Julien, “and they know who is out there when they are out there and they make sure that they do the job properly and don’t give them scoring chances.”