Pastrnak's hat trick lifts Bruins past Penguins

PITTSBURGH --David Pastrnak scored his third goal of the game to break a tie with 2:26 remaining, and the Boston Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Pastrnak, who put Boston in front with a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Pavel Zacha, has 102 points (56 goals, 46 assists) in 76 games this season. It's the first time he has had 100 points in his nine NHL seasons.
"It's great. I've said many times, I'd probably take 100 (points) over 50 goals," Pastrnak said. "I'm very happy with it. Big thanks to my linemates and teammates. Things have been going well, and (I) feel good out there."

Zacha had three assists, and Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves for the Bruins (59-12-5), who have won nine of 10.
Boston, which has already won the Presidents' Trophy, has 123 points this season, the most in its history.
"It's a great accomplishment, but it's hard when you're right in the moment to embrace it, I guess maybe enjoy it," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "I think after the season is over, we'll be able to sit back. It's historical what we're doing. It's a pleasure to coach these guys."
Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist, and Jake Guentzel extended his goal streak to four games for the Penguins (37-29-10), who have lost seven of 10 (3-7-0). Tristan Jarry made 31 saves.
Pittsburgh fell one point behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Florida defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 later on Saturday.
"We've got to find a way to get over it," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "It was a tough way to lose tonight. It was a tough way to lose, and that stings when the games have so much meaning, like they do at this time of year. But we've got to find a way to get over it. That falls on all of us, myself included."

McAvoy gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 6:20 of the first period. He scored into an open net after receiving a diving backhand pass from Zacha with one second left on a power play.
"We've been doing that all year, finding ways to win games," McAvoy said. "I feel like our leadership and our overall team composure has been good for us. Never too high, never too low."
Rust tied it 1-1 on Pittsburgh's first shot of the period at 7:33. He received a backhand pass from Sidney Crosby and went backhand to forehand before scoring with a wrist shot through Dmitry Orlov's legs.
Pastrnak responded for Boston to make it 2-1 at 1:41 of the second period, deflecting a backhand from Orlov on a power play.
"Playing against a really good team over there," Rust said. "It's just one of those things where a couple little breakdowns end up in the back of our net."
Rust tied it 2-2 at 4:09 of the third period. Swayman made the initial save on Rust's shot on a 2-on-1, but he was then run into by McAvoy, which knocked the puck into the net.
Pastrnak again put Boston back in front 3-2 at 7:07, scoring on a one-timer from the right face-off circle.
Guentzel tied it 3-3 with a one-timer from the slot past a screen from Crosby at 12:30. The goal was upheld after Montgomery challenged the play for goalie interference.
"Regardless of who we're playing, it's tough," Crosby said. "We battled back. To not get any points out of it, it's frustrating."
NOTES: Pastrnak is the third Bruins player to have at least 100 points in a season in the past 20 years, joining Brad Marchand (100 points in 2018-19) and Joe Thornton (101 points in 2002-03). His 14 hat tricks are tied with Cam Neely for the second-most in Bruins history, behind Phil Esposito (26). … Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron did not play to rest nagging injuries. … It was Rust's first two-goal game since Feb. 1, 2022.