Among the ingredients in the Boston Bruins’ recipe for success, it’s hard to ignore the steady production of forward David Pastrnak, and the Czech once again added his two cents to a tasteful season.
Co-recipient of the 2019-20 Maurice Richard Trophy, he caused quite a bit of damage during Tuesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabers with a goal and two assists. With 11 goals this season, the hockey player is two of the leaders in the circle, Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets). Therefore, he is on his way to having a campaign similar to the last one, when he threaded the needle 61 times.
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And that’s not counting his 24 points, which earned him second place in the race for the Art-Ross trophy. If the main player finishes atop the scoring and offensive rankings, he will succeed the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, who stuffed Maurice-Richard and Art-Ross in 2022-23.
In short, the Bruins are happy, and their head coach Jim Montgomery is full of praise for Pastrnak.
“He makes the people around him better,” he said, according to NHL.com after the 5-2 win against the Buffalo Sabres. He is as good a sniper as he is a passer. The way he competes as the leader of our team and the most talented player shows everyone that you have to work to be successful.”
The group above all
But winning is not the job of just one man in the dressing room and the wing teammates are the first to insist on the importance of a joint effort. Boston uses the same keys that allowed it to collect 65 wins and 135 points in 2022-2023: nonstop work, combined with talent and symbiosis among skaters. Everyone contributes, defenders and goalkeepers alike.
“That’s what drives everything. You want to absorb a winning culture, create it and make it sustainable, said Linus Ullmark, winner of the Vezina Trophy last season. The club here has been so good at achieving this over the years and now with the takeover we keep the flame going as much as possible.”
The leaders of the Atlantic part of the National League are waiting for the Montreal Canadiens, who will be at the TD Garden on Saturday at 7 p.m. The TVA Sports channel will broadcast the match.
