Talking Points: Pastrnak, Bruins Bust Through With 5-3 Win Over Devils

Despite blowing three one-goal leads, the Boston Bruins scored two third period goals and held on for a 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak snapped a nine-game goalless slump to score the game-winner 14:11 into the third period and defenseman Brandon Carlo added an insurance goal with 23 seconds left in regulation to give the Bruins three straight wins for the first time since November 13-20.

Curtis Lazar had a goal and an assist; Oskar Steen scored his first career goal in the NHL and Trent Frederic scored for a second straight game for the Bruins.

Nathan Bastian, Tomas Tatar, and Damon Severson lit the lamp for the Devils.

Boston Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark stopped 23 of 26 Devils shots and Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves on 34 Bruins shots.

GOLD STAR: David Pastrnak – As mentioned above, Pastrnak scored his first goal in nine games and it was also his first since Nov. 30 in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. However, unlike most goal droughts, since that game, Pastrnak never really stopped being Pastrnak as he struggled to find the back of the net. He had 30 shots during his scoring slump and he never really sulked or lacked effort as frustration obviously grew. That’s why his game-winning goal Tuesday that snapped that nine-game goalless streak was so impressive. Pastrnak simply wouldn’t be denied and took that effort level even higher. He set the play that led to his goal in motion and then finished it with a drive to the net that reminded this scribe of an NHL legend from his native Czech Republic, and former Boston Bruins winger Jaromir Jagr. The finesse and determination to the net from Pastrnak were exactly what he needed to get back on track and what his team needed to grind out another win.

Pastrnak pulls the Bruins back ahead. That's their fourth lead of the game. 4-3 score. pic.twitter.com/qqQPqbr1BJ

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 5, 2022

BLACK EYE: Severson Game-Tying Goal – The Boston Bruins had a chance to really seize control of a back-and-forth game 5:28 into the third period when Devils defenseman Damon Severson went to the sin-bin for two minutes on a holding the stick call. Instead, thanks to some sloppy and loose play around the perimeter, that powerplay set the table for one of the most inexcusable plays in hockey: letting the guy in the box, hop out, break in alone and score a goal. That’s exactly what Severson did to tie the game at three 7:36 into the final frame, as the Bruins got caught sleeping.

🚨GOAL🚨

Damon Severson ties up with this breakaway 7:36 into the third.#NHLBruins 3#NJDevils 3 pic.twitter.com/Kj3rOBtSLC

— Hockey Night in New England (@HockeyNightInNE) January 5, 2022

TURNING POINT: Pastrnak’s Tertiary Assist – As I pointed out above, the Pastrnak goal doesn’t really happen without his determination to keep the play that led to his goal, going. Pastrnak raced around the net, played the body on the end boards knocking the puck loose to Hall. Hall’s shot then bounces off the boards as he’s pressured from Bastien, Pastrnak picks it up and then makes that impressive track to the net for the goal.

HONORABLE MENTION: Curtis Lazar – In only his second game since December 16, Lazar was a laser on the ice, using his speed and tenacity to light the lamp and help create Frederic’s chance that he buried to make it 3-2 Bruins 9:42 into the second period. As is usually the case, Lazar was solid on the penalty kill as well. While the pesky forward has just three goals and three assists in 22 games, he has given what’s expected of him a Swiss Army knife-type player on the energy line and the third line at times.

Curtis Lazar is back. 1-0 pic.twitter.com/K17g5lD9A6

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) January 5, 2022

BY THE NUMBERS: 1 – As in Lazar’s goal 2:53 into regulation giving the Boston Bruins a 1-0 lead for the first time since December 11 when defenseman Connor Clifton gave the B’s a 1-0 lead in a 4-2 win over the Flames in Calgary.

As mentioned above, another first took place in the second period when Steen netted his first NHL career goal.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “It felt good. Obviously, it’s been a bit of a grind lately but we’ve been playing well. The game overall is fun right now. Every line is rolling. Hopefully, we keep going and keep being like that.” – Pastrnak on what it felt liek when his goal went in.