David Pastrnak's 14th career hat trick lifts Bruins past the Penguins

The Boston Bruins have been playing hockey for nearly a century.

Never, however, quite like this.

David Pastrnak finished off his 14th career hat trick with a blast by Tristan Jarry with 2:26 remaining to lift the Bruins to a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Boston improved to 59-12-5 with the win and is now within three games of the NHL's all-time single-season victory mark of 62 set by Detroit in 1996 and tied by Tampa Bay in 2019. Boston has six games remaining.

The Bruins, which entered the NHL in 1924, also set a franchise record for most points in a season, moving past the 121 points produced by the 1970-71 team.

"It's a great accomplishment, but it's hard when you're right in the moment to embrace it, I guess maybe, enjoy it," first-year Boston 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."

Especially when Pastrnak is on a heater.

The veteran forward has 10 goals in his last eight games and 56 on the season, the fifth-highest single-season total in franchise history. His first goal of the game, a deflection from in front, gave him 100 points for the first time in his nine-year career.

"I've said many times, I'd probably take 100 (points) over 50 goals," Pastrnak said.

This year, Pastrnak didn't have to choose.

The Bruins won for the ninth time in 10 games even with captain Patrice Bergeron getting the day off by turning aside all six Pittsburgh power plays — including a 45-second two-man advantage in the second period — and responding every time the Penguins drew even.

"We've been doing that all year, finding ways to win games," said defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who scored his seventh goal of the season in the first period

Bryan Rust scored twice for Pittsburgh, his first multigoal game since Feb. 1,

2022, against Washington. Jake Guentzel's 35th of the season with 7:30 left in regulation tied the game. Jarry stopped 31 shots but couldn't get a handle Pastrnak's one-timer from the slot in the final minutes.