Talking points: David Pastrnak puts up lackluster performance in Game 2

Share

GOLD STAR: Brayden Point went from the outhouse to the penthouse in the matter of a single playoff game as he was saddled with a minus-5 in the first game while trying to play shutdown on Patrice Bergeron’s line. In Game 2 it was a different story as Point finished with a goal and four points along with a plus-2 rating in 19:48 of ice time, and his line dinged Bergeron’s line for three even strength (sort of anyway as the final one was an empty net Tampa score) goals during the game. The first two of them were off turnovers by David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand that opened up the transition game for the Lightning, and were exactly what the Bruins were trying not to do. So score one for Point and his shutdown line cohorts of Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat as they were much more effective the second time around holding Bergeron’s line to eight shots on net and 14 shot attempts. 

BLACK EYE: It was a tough night for David Pastrnak, who managed just a single shot on net and had three giveaways including the one that set up Tampa’s go-ahead goal where Tyler Johnson’s change-up shot appeared to mystify Tuukka Rask. Pastrnak made a few different plays where he was a little too fancy against a Tampa team that was determined to play hard-nosed hockey, and he wasn’t able to match that intensity in Game 2. Pastrnak was also whistled for a double-minor high-sticking penalty in the third period that put a crimp in Boston’s comeback plans, but then again it appeared the incorrect call as it was Hedman’s own stick that hit him right in the head. He’s been brilliant, obviously, so there’s no doubt Pastrnak will bounce back.  

TURNING POINT: The third period was one where things went completely off the rails for the referees. After calling a weak slashing penalty on Torey Krug that led to a Tampa power play goal in the first period, they came back and missed a slashing penalty on a Brad Marchand breakaway and a cross-check on David Pastrnak against the end boards in the closing minutes of the third period when it was still a one-goal game. That doesn’t even count a double-minor high-sticking call on Pastrnak in the middle of the third period where it was Hedman’s own stick that caught him in his own head after Pastrnak had lifted it as the puck went by. It shouldn’t have been a penalty and illustrated just how much the B’s were burned by bad calls in the third period, so it wasn’t a good night for referees Kelly Sutherland and Eric Furlatt. The Bruins will move on, but the Lightning got quite the home ice advantage in this one. 

MORE BRUINS:

HONORABLE MENTION: Charlie McAvoy continues to get stronger and stronger as he scored his first playoff goal in the first period to even things up, and finished with 23:42 of ice time for the Bruins. McAvoy finished at an even rating with two shot attempts, three hits, one takeaway and three blocked shots, and now has three points in his last two games while very clearly gaining in the mobility and confidence department. While it was very clearly a bit of a slog for McAvoy in the first round of the playoffs, the Bruins now seem to be getting the player back that could end up being a huge difference-maker in this series and beyond. That’s three straight solid playoff games for the 20-year-old rookie after the slow start. 

BY THE NUMBERS: 8 – The number of shots on net for the Bruins top Bergeron Line, which is the number of shots they’ve managed to produce for each of the last two games in quite an offensive slowdown from the Toronto series. 

QUOTE TO NOTE: “That’s a play that they called earlier in the game, and what they’ve called all year…a slash up on the hands. That’s an automatic penalty shot, let alone a penalty. It’s a tough one there, but we had some chances on the power play. We just have to capitalize.” –Brad Marchand, on the non-call on his third period breakaway where it appeared he was slashed on the hands from behind when it was still a one-goal game. 

NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE

Contact Us