The Boston Bruins star forward broke a 'micro-slump' with a power-play goal against the New Jersey Devils in Monday's 3-0 win, but remains focused on attacking Boston's ramped up schedule leading into the 2024 All-Star Break.

BOSTON – For most players, going two games without a goal is nothing to blink an eye at. However, David Pastrnak is not ‘most players.’

The 27-year-old Boston Bruins forward holds himself to a higher standard, and for good reason. His 61 points place him third in the NHL and a full 20 points clear of the next-highest scorer on the Bruins (Brad Marchand - 41).

Pastrnak has just about as many games this season with a goal (21) as he does without (22) so far this season, so after failing to score on nine shots on goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Boston’s 2-1 overtime loss on Thursday, then tallying two assists but no goals (4 SOG) against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, he felt the need to reevaluate.

“As a player or a pro athlete, you’re always looking for little resets,” Pastrnak said on Monday. “The season is long and stuff is going to happen, and with the experience I had and great teachers… great guys to learn from – and mentors – throughout my career. You kind of look for some reasons.”

Back home after a four-game road trip on Monday, the Bruins were leading the New Jersey Devils 1-0 in the third period when Devils forward Max Willman went to the box for slashing. In a desperate attempt to cushion the lead, the Bruins hunkered down in the offensive zone, putting two shots on goal before Marchand regrouped at the point.

The Bruins captain dished the puck to Charlie McAvoy alone behind the right circle, and McAvoy sent it across ice to a waiting Pastrnak, who unleashed a one-timer past Devils goalie Nico Daws at 3:22. Boston went on to win 3-0.

“When you’re used to scoring and doing as much as he does, you know, two games where maybe – whether he’s off or whether it’s the puck’s not going in the net because he’s missing the opportunities – he’s hard on himself,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “He expects great things from himself.”

Montgomery shared that he went to talk to Pastrnak in St. Louis the morning of Boston’s 4-3 overtime win on Saturday. For most players, this would serve as a valuable opportunity to get in sync with what the coach wants. Again, Pastrnak is not ‘most players.’

“He cuts me off, doesn’t allow me to talk,” Montgomery said, admitting it’s happened multiple times. “He says, ‘I’m gonna be good tonight, don’t worry about it.’ And his effort in St. Louis was really good. And then you combine talent and effort, you usually end up with production. Common sense.”

More than halfway through the season, the schedule is just ramping up for the Bruins. Beginning Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche, Boston will have six games in 10 days leading up to the All-Star Break. Even then, Pastrnak will be spending the weekend in Toronto as one of the selected players.

Still, Pastrnak views the upcoming schedule as a prime opportunity to go on a run rather than a stamina challenge to get past.

“I think it’s much easier for the whole team to find the mojo and get in shape,” Pastrnak said. “We have five, six games before the bye week, right? So I think we have to make sure that we bear down because we eventually will have a week off… Make sure we set ourselves in good position coming to the break.”