Brad Marchand was the overtime hero in the Boston Bruins’ 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, but David Pastrnak’s three points – including the assist on the winner – provided the latest example of his growing importance, even after scoring 61 goals last season.
David Pastrnak’s importance to the Boston Bruins has never been a secret nor a surprise. After he was voted a Hart Trophy finalist last season, when he scored 61 goals and 113 points, Pastrnak entered the 2023-24 season with an even bigger load to carry on his shoulders.
With the departures of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi, the 27-year-old winger is being relied on to drive the offense even more than he was before, while also stepping up into a bigger leadership spot.
His three-point night in Boston’s 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs marked just the latest example of how seamlessly he’s grown into his expanded role.
“This was the best game we’ve played in a while, maybe [in] two weeks,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “How hard we were to play against, the time and space, protecting the middle of the ice.
“And I loved 88 tonight.”
The Bruins were a bit slow to get into rhythm at the start of the game, but Pastrnak’s goal at 10:44 of the first period – a snap shot from long-range – displayed his game-changing ability as one of the top offensive players in the NHL.
Firing the puck between two Toronto defensemen, Pastrnak perfectly placed the puck into the top left corner, where Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll didn’t have a chance of stopping it. It was one of just seven shots the Bruins had in the whole period, but it was massive.
He flashed his ability to make big plays again in the second period, sending the perfect pass to Kevin Shattenkirk to set up his first goal in a Bruins uniform at 7:31.
“I probably just assumed that he was just a pure goal-scorer,” Shattenkirk said. “I think he’s tremendous at creating off the rush, off of entries. … The way that he sees the ice, again, he sees plays happening three steps ahead, and I think that’s a special talent.”
Pastrnak ended the night with 10 shots on goal, but the biggest one came in overtime on a breakaway. Woll made the stop, but it bounced to the side where Pastrnak could retrieve it and fire it in the air towards Marchand, who caught the puck and set it down to hammer in the winning goal with eight seconds left in overtime.
“I saw him stop at the net, so I just tried to get it [to him] as quick as possible,” Pastrnak said. “Great handle by him. So happy for him, and big goal for him.”
While the reason the game went to overtime – allowing a 6-on-5 goal in the final seconds while defending a one-goal lead – is a separate concern, Pastrnak’s ability to almost single-handedly win games is evidence of how much his value has risen, despite it being so high to begin with.
Saturday’s win elevated his point total to 36 in 23 games; Marchand is the next-closest on the team with 20, but Pastrnak’s value goes further than scoring.
“On the bench, he’s much more talkative,” Montgomery said. “He’s very positive on the bench, where last year he didn’t concern himself with having to do that ‘cause we had so many other great leaders, but he’s grown like that and he’s also grown his play-making.”
For Pastrnak, he realized the loss of voices in the locker room meant he needed to step up. Somehow, through 23 games at least, the Bruins’ most valuable player from last year is arguably the most improved. Working with less offensive talent around him than before, and taking on a bigger responsibility both on and off the ice, Pastrnak is on pace for 128 points in 82 games.
“I had great teachers throughout my career, and still have,” Pastrnak said. “Those big leaders are not here now, so I feel like sometimes it’s good for me to speak up and also learn that way.”