Pastrnak's Hat Trick Highlights Unforgettable Night at TD Garden

BOSTON - From the moment that the Bruins hit the ice for warmups on Saturday night, it was clear that there was something special happening on Causeway Street.
Over an hour before Game 1 of Boston's second-round series against the New York Islanders began, the anticipation and excitement was already boiling over. For the first time since March 7, 2020, TD Garden was filled to capacity and set to unleash after 15 months of anguish, sorrow, and frustration.
"It seemed like it meant a lot to all of us. It seemed like for the fans it was also special," said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. "It was a year of lots of ups and downs - more downs than not - craziness, and heartache. I thought you could tell that everyone was trying to enjoy themselves and have a good night."

The Bruins made sure the party rolled on all night, putting on quite a show in a tight but convincing 5-2 victory over the Islanders in the series opener. David Pastrnak led the way with his second career postseason hat trick, while Charlie McAvoy blasted home the winner midway through the third period to lift Boston to a 1-0 series advantage.
"That was obviously a lot of fun to have fans back," said Pastrnak, whose hat trick was the second of his postseason career, which trails only Phil Esposito (four), Cam Neely (three), and Johnny Bucyk (three) in Bruins history.
"You could feel the energy already this morning. We were all excited. In the warmup, it felt like 22 players playing their first NHL game, everybody looking around, so many people. Definitely a different game than the rest.
"It's a different sport with them in the building. Kind of warms your heart and reminds you why you play this sport. It was awesome to have them back, just coming on for warmups was so much fun.
"They've been our seventh player the whole night, so really good job by them. I enjoyed it a lot."

Following a boisterous warmup, during which the building was already fuller than it had been all season long, the pregame presentation brought with it plenty of emotion. With the Garden buzzing, the fans erupted when A.J. Quetta - the Bishop Feehan hockey player left paralyzed after an on-ice accident earlier this year - was introduced as the honorary fan banner captain.
"I think 18,000 people or whatever it was helps everyone get going," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "The magnitude of where we are - the second round - you put that on top of A.J., seeing him doing better, all those things go into it. Every little bit of support for us, once the puck drops, matters."
But before the puck dropped, the Black & Gold faithful made sure to turn up the decibel level once more as they joined Todd Angilly for a raucous rendition of the national anthem that had the building shaking down to its foundation.
"It was really special," said McAvoy. "It's been a while. I was kind of joking around this morning that it's been so long that tonight was going to feel like the first time again and it was awesome. Never seen that many fans there early for warmups. You could tell that they were excited.
"They were into it, they were loud, they were passionate. They were everything that makes Bruins fans so special. Really happy to get the win for them in their first game back and we're going to need them the rest of the way here. They did their job tonight."
As did the Bruins. Feeding off of the frenzied atmosphere, Boston - despite allowing the opening goal and being tied after two periods - carried the play for much of the evening, outshooting the Islanders, 40-22, while generating the vast majority of the contest's scoring chances. The Bruins had 35 (12 high danger) to New York's 11 (2 high danger), per Natural Stat Trick.
"I think we talked about it," said Bergeron, "that we had to be appreciative, that we had to soak it in, but also to play the game and not to worry about it too much, kind of put yourself in a bubble, if you will, and trust your instincts and play hockey. The rest will take care of itself, and the energy will be there from the crowd."

While the energy level flattened a bit after the Islanders made it 1-0 on a power-play tally from Anthony Beauvillier midway through the first, the Garden exploded when Pastrnak notched his first of the night on the power play with just 24 seconds remaining in the opening frame to tie things up heading into the intermission.
Despite a near week-long layoff, the tally was an indication that Pastrnak was set to carry on the momentum he built over the final two games of the first round against Washington when he picked up a goal and an assist in both contests.
"Obviously, he's feeling it," said Cassidy. "He broke through in Washington late, had plenty of opportunities. So that was the good news, only a matter of time. That line's really humming…right now, he's going. Goal scorers get hot sometimes. He had a spell there where it didn't work out for him, particularly on the power play. Now he's finding some ice and his shots are going in. Good for him, that's what we need as a team."
Pastrnak served up his second at 11:08 of the middle frame to give Boston a 2-1 lead when he ripped home a one-timer from the circle off a Bergeron rebound.
"It seems like he always rises to the occasion every time he is asked to," said Bergeron. "I think he is one of those guys who brings that energy and loves to get the crowd going, so it seems kind of fitting to have one of those nights with the fans back in the building."
The lead did not last long, however, as the Islanders knotted the game at 2 just 1:26 later on a point blast from Adam Pelech. But the Bruins were not to be denied on this night, not with 17,400 of their closest friends back in the building.
Flipping the script on the Islanders, who dominated the third period throughout much of the season series, the Bruins scored three over the final 20 minutes, including the eventual winner from McAvoy, who blasted one by New York goalie Ilya Sorokin from the point at 6:20 of the third - just 18 seconds after the expiration of a too many men penalty on Boston - to give the B's a 3-2 lead.
"Anything can happen, and the smallest little thing can lead to huge shifts in the game," said McAvoy. "We had that penalty and I think the overall mindset on our bench was, 'Let's kill this thing off and go back to work.' I thought we were playing well before that happened and were able to do that and then sure enough you take sort of a nothing play, just a point shot, and turns into a goal. And then Pasta is able to get us an insurance goal there with his skill and that line and we're able to get the job done."

Pastrnak sent the Garden into delirium when he capped off his 12th career hat trick (10 regular season, 2 playoffs) with a wicked wrister from the slot with 4:10 remaining in the third. The hats rained down on the ice for several minutes after the goal as the crowd sang along with the Garden soundtrack and shook the building once more.
"The music after and the hats and everything and hearing the crowd just go wild," said McAvoy. "It's a small piece, but it's something about what's so special about being a Boston Bruin and kind of embodying that moment."
A moment that Cassidy felt important to appreciate.
"I was trying to enjoy the moment, looking around at the crowd," said Cassidy. "It's been a long time since we had a full house here at the Garden. They were behind us from warmups on. Obviously, we want to play well for the group, for each other, but also for the fans that have continued to support us and came out tonight, especially. It was just a good a moment to look around and see a lot of joy."
A lot of joy after a year of so much suffering. And a night that no one who was in the building will soon forget.
"They certainly met [expectations], probably surpassed them, I think. The energy and the atmosphere was everything we expected and more," said Bergeron. "To say we have missed them is an understatement. I think we appreciate it even more when the fans were kind of taken away from the game for quite some time and we have to play without them.
"A special night. It was good to have them and good to have the win."