David Pastrnak torches Hurricanes for hat trick, five points in Bruins 5-1 win
In a Bruins season that can't end soon enough, Pastrnak continues to make magic on the ice.
There are plenty of reasons why the Bruins find themselves in striking distance of a top-five NHL Draft pick instead of a wild card spot this season, but David Pastrnak is one of the few things going right on the ice for Boston.
On Saturday, the superstar winger was almost solely responsible for the Bruins’ rout of the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden. He recorded a hat trick and five points, having a hand in every goal Boston scored in the 5-1 win.
All three of Pastrnak’s goals were things of beauty, and he made each one look easier than the last. Perhaps his highlight of the night came at the beginning of the third period when Pastrnak perfectly batted a pass out of the air and over the shoulder of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Anderson.
Saturday’s Red Sox game was postponed due to inclement weather, but Pastrnak did his best to give the Boston fans one good swing for the day. After the game, he admitted that his skills with a hockey stick don’t translate to the baseball diamond.
“I don’t think I will ever score a goal like that, it’s so lucky,” Pastrnak said. “I tried baseball a couple times, really bad at it … Good eye coordination, but a little luck.”
Before that, the assistant captain took a puck through the crease spun around to his forehand and ripped home a shot with almost no angle at the net. And in the final five minutes, Morgan Geekie found Pastrnak alone and streaking towards the net. Pastrnak put a move on Anderson and tucked away his hat trick goal with ease.
Geekie and Pastrnak’s developing connection was on full display on Saturday. Geekie earned four points, assisting each of Pastrnak’s three goals while scoring one of his own courtesy of a pass from his star winger.
Despite all of the negatives throughout the season, Pastrnak still found a way to place himself among the best forwards in the NHL. His 94 points and 40 goals are both currently in the top 5 among all NHL players. If he’s able to score six more points over the last five games, it’ll mark his third straight season with 100 or more points.
Boston has little to play for, and from this point forward benefits more from losses than wins. However, Pastrnak knows that at the end of a disappointing season, it’s important to stay competitive and find little wins.
“Just show up to work and get better every day,” Pastrnak said of his mentality ending the year. “I try to compete, that’s why I am where I am. The competitiveness in my body is crazy, I can’t go weeks or days without it. … Just finish strong, because it carries over for the next season the way you finish.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com