Talking Points: Pastrnak Nets OT Winner, Bruins Beat Sens 3-2

The Boston Bruins blew a one-goal lead late but still came away with two points against the Ottawa Senators as Bruins winger David Pastrnak scored 2:42 into overtime to give the Bruins a 3-2 win.

Jake DeBrusk and Brandon Carlo scored the other goals for the Bruins and goalie Jeremy Swayman made 29 saves to beat the Senators for the second time in a week.

Senators forward Tim Stutzle and defenseman Nick Holden scored for the Sens and Anton Forsberg turned made 30 saves in the loss.

Here’s your BHN Talking Points:

GOLD STAR: Jake DeBrusk – Overall, DeBrusk has played much better since news broke in late November that he had requested a trade. However, in the last few games, the tenacity and drive that he had been displaying was missing and that’s likely why he found himself down on the fourth line with Tomas Nosek and Curtis Lazar (Note: I still would’ve had DeBrusk on the third line and Foligno on the fourth). Well, the Boston Bruins winger answered the bell in a big way on Saturday. As mentioned above, DeBrusk gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead 2:37 into the second period and he played with more purpose. He was finishing off hits, played strong on the forecheck, and didn’t give up on plays, as evidenced when he set Lazar up in front with what seemed like a layup for the win with 8.6 seconds left but Lazar couldn’t bury it. If DeBrusk plays like that again every night, he won’t on the fourth line for long. The only negative for DeBrusk Saturday was that he once again didn’t face the media. Trust me, Jake, we weren’t going to come at ya about the trade request this time. You played great and you deserved the praise.

Batting practice goal by Jake DeBrusk. 😳 pic.twitter.com/GXiFRwQOXc

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 20, 2022

BLACK EYE: Austin Watson – For the second Saturday in a row and the second-straight game between the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, Austin Watson is part of the Black Eye. After Connor Clifton laid a perfectly clean and textbook open-ice hit on Senators forward Parker Kelly – and Kelly got right up and challenged Clifton – Watson absolutely jumped Clifton. Somehow, Watson didn’t get thrown out for being the third man in and escaped with just a two-minute roughing minor. In fact, the Bruins somehow ended up shorthanded thanks to Nick Foligno jumping in to defend his teammate.

TURNING POINT: Nick Holden Goal – The former Boston Bruins defenseman – if only for a few months after being acquired days before the 2018 NHL trade deadline – came back to haunt the B’s Saturday. Holden tied the game at two with just 3:54 left in regulation and helped his team earn a point by forcing overtime.

Nick Holden jumps into the rush and wires home Brown's fantastic pass into the slot to knot it up at 2!#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/3jmebOYBV5

— Hockey Daily 365 (@HockeyDaily365) February 20, 2022

HONORABLE MENTION: David Pastrnak – One could argue that with the game-winner in overtime, David Pastrnak should be our Gold Star tonight but as mentioned above, DeBrusk was a real presence throughout. …and truth be told, he hasn’t been getting enough recognition here in the opinion of this puck scribe. That being said, Pastrnak was back to being the shot machine he usually is as he finished with four shots in 19:26 TOI and had the Senators scrambling at times as he found his sweet spot of the ice. No shot was sweeter than the overtime winner that gave the Boston Bruins two points and snapped a four-game goalless streak for him.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5 – Taylor Hall and Nick Paul led the way in shots with five each.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “If he wants us to cross-check some people in the teeth, then maybe we need to start doing that.” – Carlo on Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy saying Saturday morning that the Bruins defensemen need to stop being so nice and ‘play like pricks’ more often.