Pastrnak's OT Winner Pushes Bruins Past Senators

OTTAWA - David Pastrnak had been one of the NHL's hottest players since the calendar turned to 2022. The winger put together a torrid stretch through January, during which he potted 16 goals in 16 games.
But the last week, he admitted, had been a grind.

Pastrnak was without a goal for four consecutive games, all but one of which resulted in losses for the Black & Gold. But the 25-year-old put an end to that stretch in a big way on Saturday night when he blasted home the overtime winner to push the Bruins past the Ottawa Senators, 3-2, at Canadian Tire Centre.
"It's been a little grind lately. Obviously, a nice goal. But overall, it's a big win for us to end the road trip. It wasn't pretty but we got the two points," said Pastrnak, whose marker at 2:42 of the extra session salvaged what had been a forgettable road trip for the Bruins after losses to the Rangers (shootout) and Islanders in New York earlier this week.
"Obviously huge, you never want to come back from the road trip without wins. Today was a big one and we are really happy we got it done. But still work to do for us."
Pastrnak ended things midway through extra time when he belted a Taylor Hall feed by Ottawa goalie Anton Forsberg from his patented spot at the left-wing circle. The tally was Pastrnak's 25th goal of the year, marking his fifth such campaign in the last six seasons.
"I got away a little bit from shooting the last couple games," said Pastrnak. "But at the same time, it was maybe a little bit of situations, sometimes I feel like there is a better spot to pass than shoot and then there's not. Sometimes it's the decision making and lately it's been going the wrong way, the decision reading. It's good to get one today."

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is hopeful that the winning marker will help get Pastrnak back on track following a frustrating few games.
"Every player wants to score in overtime. I think he needed that, to be honest with you," said Cassidy. "He was getting frustrated with his opportunities - or lack of. Even some calls today, looked like he got roughed up a few times and didn't get a call. For a goal scorer, you don't want to go too long.
"Again, in a situation like this, with his shot in his spot, and a good play by Taylor. I think Taylor balanced shooting the puck tonight and looking to make plays as well. I think he's doing that better the last two or three games."

Making the Cut

Brandon Carlo wasn't quite sure how his day would end up. The blue liner was forced to exit the pregame skate early on Saturday morning after suffering a cut across his forearm when he fell to the ice during a penalty kill drill and got sliced by the skate of Linus Ullmark.
Carlo required stitches and, following the skate, Cassidy said it was possible that the defenseman would not be able to suit up against the Senators. But fortunately, the cut missed any muscles or tendons and Carlo felt good enough to give it a go in the road trip finale.
"I just fell on the ice right in front of the net there. As I was going down, I cut my forearm a little bit," said Carlo. "Luckily, it was a really nice, clean cut in the right spot. It didn't reach all the way to the muscle and that was a good thing. Definitely some stitches. It was pretty deep but because of the placement of where it was it didn't damage anything. We got lucky there."
So did the Bruins, as Carlo contributed a solid all-around effort that included a go-ahead goal with 1:06 remaining in the second period.
"I thought Brandon Carlo had a good game not because he scored but he just seemed to be harder on pucks and the plays below the goal line, things like that," said Cassidy. "That's the snarl, move people out of the front of the net and end plays below the goal line when it's your opportunity."
On the goal, his fourth of the season, Carlo pinched down the wall to corral a Mike Reilly rim-around and eventually found himself in the slot as he made his way back toward the blue line. In the meantime, Charlie Coyle tossed a feed toward the slot that banked off an Ottawa defender and into the slot where Carlo backhanded it by Forsberg to put Boston ahead, 2-1.
"I think Reills might have rimmed the puck around first. I saw the opportunity, knew I would get there first, so I pinched down," said Carlo. "I just pushed it down the wall and Charlie Coyle obviously does a great job puck protecting. It just popped out to me in the front of the net. I don't know how I found myself there but lucky I was."

Turning It Up a Notch

Before the game, Cassidy told the media that he wanted to his defensemen to play with more of that snarl, saying, "we have a lot of nice guys on our team. We need to be more like [jerks], to be honest with you." Boston's blue liners appeared to get the message as Charlie McAvoy and Connor Clifton both delivered bone-rattling checks on Connor Brown and Parker Kelly, respectively.
"I think we did pretty well at keeping everything to the outside tonight," Carlo said of the Bruins' defensive effort. "There was times where we got in a little bit of trouble right behind our net. But I think we're all playing really hard, being assertive, physical, and I would say we did a pretty good job of that tonight. Definitely some room to continue to grow but it's not for lack of effort by any means.
"I think you've seen it from us before. In those games when things do get physical, we don't back down by any means. I think, yeah, there's a nastiness that can become important in front to the net area."
Overall, Cassidy seemed pleased with the response of the back end and his club's overall defensive effort.
"I thought our guys were trying to bring more of that [physicality]," said Cassidy. "We had an extended shift at the end of the second [in the defensive zone], but it was 4-on-4. I think we just got tired and sort of defaulted to protect the middle…other than that, I thought we were trying to play hard.
"The chances they got were short-side, same side into the slot, something they do well…that's where we broke down probably three or four times, especially early in the game. Otherwise, I thought we were better getting in shooting lanes, not as many pucks travel to the net."

Getting Involved

The Bruins' first goal of the night came from Jake DeBrusk, who cruised into the slot and took a feed from Jack Studnicka before batting home a bouncing puck to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 2:37 of the second period. The tally was DeBrusk's eighth goal of the season and one of three shots on goal in 14:47 of ice time.
"I liked [his game]. Much more involved, competitive. Hung on to pucks in the O-zone," said Cassidy. "He's got talent offensively. We asked him to be more competitive. These are some of the examples on the puck in the O-zone. The play he made to [Curtis Lazar] late in the game - was just hanging on to it, separating, taking a slash, absorbing some of the contact but hanging on to pucks, not just throwing them away.
"I thought he did a lot of that tonight, did a much better job than the other night or maybe the past two or three games. As a result, he's a threat. We're comfortable with him out in the last minute if that's the compete you're gonna get out of him. I thought their line did a good job trying to create offense and still do their job away from the puck."
Cassidy also complimented Studnicka's game, particularly the way the young centerman - who turned 23 on Friday - used his body to win a battle on the forecheck just before DeBrusk's goal.
"What I liked about his game was he was involved," said Cassidy. "I think he missed some plays, to be honest with you. There was opportunities for transition that he got in behind [Nick] Foligno and [Erik] Haula or didn't go tape to tape. Good position in the slot in the third, didn't get his shot off like he'd like to. The positive of that is he's around the puck, he's getting it in the right spot.
"It's up to him to get comfortable in the league and make the necessary plays that he should make if he wants to be a consistent NHL player. Good for him on the play to Jake. I thought he made a nice touch pass to Haula at the start of the third going to the backdoor.
"Finding out when to shoot, when to make plays will be what he'll need to do. Today I thought he was much more in the thick of things, involved, pucks finding him. Tried to be a little more physical as the game went on. Hits were there to add that dimension. He is getting bigger, so certainly bring some of that as well."