DiPietro gets first career shutout, Bruins defeat Predators to stay hot

BOSTON -- Michael DiPietro made 28 saves for his first NHL shutout, and David Pastrnak had two goals and two assists in the Boston Bruins’ 6-0 win against the Nashville Predators at TD Garden on Thursday.

DiPietro was coming off his first NHL victory on Friday, when he made 26 saves in a 4-2 win at the Anaheim Ducks.

The performance Thursday had personal meaning for him on the Bruins’ Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

“A little bit stressed out, but obviously you can’t write it better,” he said. “For me, it means a lot on Hockey Fights Cancer Night. My mom (Becky) passed away when I was 5 from cancer, so it means a lot for me, my family and everyone back home. I just want to make them proud, and this is a real special moment.”

Charlie McAvoy had four assists, and Pavel Zacha added two assists for the Bruins (8-2-1), who extended their point streak to seven games (6-0-1) in their return home following a 3-0-1 trip.

“We had a focus this morning and we wanted to be crisp, starting with the pregame skate,” McAvoy said. “Go out, get what we need, but be good about it, be pros and make sure we show up and ready to go tonight. Everybody did a really good job of taking on that challenge, and we started on time and we just played a really great team game.” 

Since returning from a six-game suspension to begin the season for slashing Buffalo Sabres forward Zach Benson during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round last season, McAvoy has six points (one goal, five assists) in five games. 

Pastrnak has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in his past seven games. Still, it meant more to the Bruins captain that his team received goals from five players against the Predators. 

“Amazing,” Pastrnak said. “Obviously it helps every line is producing. It’s almost like you’re waiting for who is it going to be tonight? It’s fun to see. It’s amazing. Every line is finding chemistry.”

Justus Annunen made 25 saves in his first game of the season for the Predators (3-3-3), who have lost four of five (1-2-2).

“It wasn’t very good. It was our worst effort of the year — by far,” said Nashville coach Andrew Brunette. “We need a few more guys playing hockey. We had too many passengers tonight and probably almost all of them. It’s disappointing. We knew coming in this is a big stretch of hockey, a big month for our group. We knew that, but we forgot to play hockey tonight.” 

Casey Mittelstadt gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 3:49 of the first period. Pastrnak avoided two defenders just inside the offensive blue line on the right side and fed Mittelstadt with a cross-ice pass before his wrist shot from the left face-off circle beat Annunen high stick side.  

Elias Lindholm increased the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 16:38. McAvoy sent the puck in from the blue line, and Lindholm redirected it to the glove side.

“First period, they were a way better team,” Nashville captain Roman Josi said. “They had the puck the whole period. It wasn’t good enough for 60 (minutes) from us.” 

Pastrnak pushed it to 3-0 at 9:46 of the second period. He scored with a tip of McAvoy’s shot from above the right circle.

JJ Peterka then made it 4-0 at 17:21, first redirecting Pastrnak’s centering pass off the left post, then poking in his own rebound.

Mark Kastelic’s goal on the backhand at 6:50 of the third period made it 5-0 before Pastrnak scored again at 15:00 for the 6-0 final, converting a wrist shot from the top of the slot.

After the win, DiPietro was the last player to enter the home locker room, where his teammates were waiting and gave him a loud ovation for his accomplishment. 

“It’s a dream come true for me to be here,” said the goalie, who has played seven NHL games (five starts), debuting Feb. 11, 2019. “You don’t want to wish the days away. I’m just enjoying each moment, whether that’s practice or a game day. I’m trying to stay grounded. It really is only a game at the end of the day, but obviously everyone in this room wants to win, so it’s about balancing that and always being ready.” 

NOTES: The Bruins scored six goals in a game for the third time this season. ... Pastrnak became the eighth player in Bruins history with 20 career four-point games. ... Predators forward Mavrik Bourque returned to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. He had three shots on goal and was 4-for-8 on face-offs in 14:36 of ice time. ... Nashville defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin played 16:11 in his season debut.