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Talking Points: David Pastrnak Tricks Flyers, Bruins Win In OT

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3 years ago

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Boston Bruins

In just three games, ‘The Pasta’ has gone from Al dente to sizzling as Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak notched a hat trick to lead the Bruins to a 4-3 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday.

The comeback kids did it again as the Boston Bruins (7-1-2, 16 pts) erased a two-goal third period deficit to beat the Philadelphia Flyers (7-2-2, 16 pts) and tie them for first place in the East Division. 

David Pastrnak (3g, 1a) completed his first hat trick of the season tying the game at three with just 15 seconds left in regulation, and then fed Patrice Bergeron (1g, 3a) for the overtime winner just 31 seconds into the extra frame. Nick Ritchie, Brad Marchand, and Charlie McAvoy each finished with an assist and Tuukka Rask made 22 saves for the Bruins. 

GOLD STAR: David Pastrnak. In just five days and three games, the ‘Pasta’ has gone from Al Dente to sizzling for the Boston Bruins as Pastrnak is off to a torrid start. If what we’re seeing is a rusty David Pastrnak, then the East Division is in trouble! 

In just his third game back, not only did David Pastrnak get a hat trick but he scored the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left in regulation and then fed Bergeron for the overtime winner. Pastrnak now has five goals, two assists, 19 shots on goal, 37 shot attempts, 13 individual scoring chances in 61:28. It’s clear that Pastrnak wants to top his Rocket Richard season when he scored 48 goals in 70 games and hit the 50-goal mark in this shortened 56-game season and it’s clear he can do it!

BLACK EYE: Jakub Zboril. As my partner in crime, Joe Haggerty pointed out, there have been ‘encouraging signs’ with the youth movement on the Boston Bruins blue line. However, there have and will be growing pains as well. That’s what Zboril appeared to go through on Wednesday as he was on the ice for the Flyers’ go-ahead goal and their third goal in the third period. Not sure whether he was tired or not but still no excuse for the lack of hustle going back on this puck before Jakub Voracek gave the Flyers their first lead 1:03 into the final frame.

 

 

Zboril then got caught back on the Flyers’ 2-on-1 that ended up with former Boston University star Joel Farabee scoring his sixth of the season to make it 3-1. 

 

 

TURNING POINT: This is a pretty obvious one. With the Bruins on the powerplay and time winding down, David Pastrnak wasn’t done. He took a beautiful feed from Bergeron who was battling in front of the net and buried it past Flyers goalie Carter Hart with 15 seconds left. The Flyers were nice enough to give the Bruins another powerplay with eight seconds left in regulation and the Bruins converted their third goal on the man advantage in overtime but even without that powerplay, the momentum had shifted and everyone was basically waiting for the Bruins to win it. 

 

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Patrice Bergeron. The Bruins captain had a brilliant night with a goal and four assists but his willingness to sacrifice his body in front of the net and ability to hold his own there is just another example of why he’s the new captain. Bergeron paid the price in front on the game-tying goal and then on overtime winner when he took that pass in front from Pastrnak and buried it as he was being harassed in front.

 

 

BY THE NUMBERS: 7 – The number of shots Pastrnak took in this game. He scored on three of them and has now scored five goals on 19 shots in three games this season.

QUOTE TO NOTE: ‘Let’s just enjoy it for now!’ – Boston Bruins Head Coach Bruce Cassidy on the play of the Bruins’ top line of Brad Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak and why for now, he will keep them together and hope the rest of the Bruins’ forward lines start clicking again.

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