Rupp On Pastrnak: ‘You Can Move Mountains With That’

NHL Network analyst and former NHLer Mike Rupp thinks what Boston Bruins alternate captain David Pastrnak did by fighting Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk in Game 2 can ‘move mountains’ for the Bruins in their quest for the 2024 Stanley Cup.

Rupp established a great NHL career as a character and physical depth player, winning a Stanley Cup as part of the 2003 New Jersey Devils. That came early in what would be an 11-season NHL career. Rupp believes that Boston Bruins winger’s actions at the end of Game 2 sent a message to the physical Florida Panthers.

“I know a lot of people are going to be like, ‘Oh, we don’t want him doing that; that’s a joke these guys putting up this fight late in the game, that’s bad sportsmanship, that stuff doesn’t matter’ well let me tell you, it does matter,” Rupp said.

We gotta talk about David Pastrnak for a moment… ⤵️ #NHLBruins 💪🏼 ⚽️🏀 pic.twitter.com/BziArffYbK

— Mike Rupp (@Rupper17) May 9, 2024

“Because I’m sitting here. …you knew Game 1, awesome! Give it to Boston; they deserved it, they earned it, but you knew Florida was going to come back; they were the favorites in this series, and you get into this game where you almost feel like Florida was gonna be like, ‘Hang on a second here, we’re the guys! We’re the big dogs on the block’ and Boston, if that game ends 6-1 with no pushback; if that game ends 6-1 and they were just like, ‘Oh OK, we’ll just collect ourselves and be ready for Game 3,’ then I’m concerned for Boston.

"Hats off to Matthew Tkachuk and David Pastrnak..

Those guys are both gamers and that was all time playoff hockey" ~ @PKSubban1 #PMSLive #HockeyIsAwesome https://t.co/U1NbS6Fouu pic.twitter.com/cSijdHz14c

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 9, 2024

“But something did happen, and it didn’t happen that way. These guys pushed back, and David Pastrnak, the way he goes out there, squares off, comes off the bench and goes out there. …are you kidding me? His postgame comments? ‘I’m not afraid of Matthew Tkachuk. I can take a punch. I’ll do anything for these guys’ – goosebumps,” Rupp said, praising the Bruins superstar winger.

In case you missed it, here are the postgame comments from Pastrnak that Rupp is referring to:

“I’m not afraid of him. I can take a punch, and I’d do anything for these guys here.”

“I’m not afraid of him. I can take a punch and I’d do anything for these guys here.” – David Pastrnak on his bout with Matthew Tkachuk. pic.twitter.com/oEjLfTTevc

— Bruins Daily (@BruinsDaily) May 9, 2024

“I mean, as a depth guy, to know that a guy that could be up for the MVP probably won’t win it this year because he’s not a finalist, but when you get that kind of support that the superstar is in the fight with you, it lifts you up, man,” Rupp went on. “All of a sudden, now I’m like, look out for this Bruins team. They’re not dead; they’re not down. I know it’s 1-1, but they’re going to come back in a big way all because David Pastrnak said, ‘I’m in this with you guys. I’ll do anything. Whatever it takes, I’m going to get uncomfortable for you guys, we have to get uncomfortable.’ – Let’s go! I mean, can you imagine if some of the other superstars in the league did that stuff at the right time? You can move mountains with that sh!t, I’m telling ya!”

Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery shared the same sentiments in his postgame comments on the fight.

“What I’m really proud of, is I’m proud Pasta because there so many guys out there pushing after the whistles when the linesmen are there. ‘Pasta’ and Tkachuk, they just went out there and fought.” the Bruins bench boss told reporters. “That’s what you like. You like your hockey players to go out there and be competitors.”

One thing Montgomery didn’t like was Tkachuk’s punches to the head of Pastrnak when he was down and defenseless.

“That’s not part of the game to me,” he said.