Pastrnak cracks six-pack
David Pastrnak had a hat trick and three assists to help host Boston blow out the Toronto Maple Leafs for the second straight game, leading the Bruins to a 7-3 win Saturday and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.
“Six points in a Stanley Cup playoff game with a hat trick,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “That’s special.”
Pastrnak shattered his previous career high of four points, scoring his third goal with 1:36 left to bring two trash cans full of caps and winter hats fluttering down to the ice. Only Wayne Gretzky (three times), Mario Lemieux and Patrick Sundstrom have recorded more than six points in an NHL playoff game.
“A lot of people in Boston already know how good he is,” linemate Patrice Bergeron said. “I think people on the outside are getting to know.”
Bergeron and Brad Marchand each had four assists. Torey Krug had three.
Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots and David Krejci, Rick Nash, Jake DeBrusk and Kevan Miller also scored.
Two nights after Frederik Andersen allowed five goals in the series opener, he gave up three more on five shots in the first 12:13 before he was replaced by Curtis McElhinney. The Bruins added another power-play goal, their second of the night and fifth of the series, to make it 4-0 after one.
Mitch Marner, Tyler Bozak and James Van Riemsdyk scored for the Maple Leafs, who never got closer than three goals down after that. McElhinney stopped 19 of 23 shots.
“Look, we were outplayed for two games, certainly,” Maple Leafs defenseman Ron Hainsey said. “We deserve every bit of criticism far and wide. Good news is: story’s not totally written.”
at Nashville 5, Colorado 4: Ryan Hartman’s emptynet goal with 1:09 left wound up the winner as the Predators beat the Avalanche for the 12th straight time and took a 2-0 series lead.
at Tampa Bay 5, New Jersey 3: Alex Killorn scored twice during a four-goal second period, chasing goalie Keith Kinkaid as the Lightning took a 2-0 series lead after going 0-2-1 against the Devils during the regular season. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 41 shots.