Pastrnak’s hat trick paces Bruins’ second-round opener
David Pastrnak got his second career playoff hat trick, David Krejci had three assists and the Boston Bruins beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Saturday night in the opening game of their secondround playoff series.
Charlie McAvoy and Taylor Hall also scored, and Patrice Bergeron had a pair of assists for the Bruins, who will host Game 2 on Monday night.
Tuukka Rask finished with 20 saves as the Bruins kept most of the action at the other end of the ice, outshooting the Islanders 40-22.
Rask didn’t allow anything past him after Adam Pelech’s goal for the Islanders 12:34 into the second period tied it at
2-2. It was one of only four shots in the period for the Islanders, who were playing before a rowdy crowd of fans who packed TD Garden for the first time in more than a year.
Anthony Beauvillier also scored for the Islanders, Jordan Eberle had two assists and Ilya Sorokin finished with 35 saves, keeping New York in it through the first 40 minutes despite the onslaught of shots from the Bruins.
Sorokin stopped Pastrnak twice on one-timers from in close in the first period, but couldn’t hold off the Bruins’ sharpshooter as he got his second career playoff hat trick.
Pastrnak scored his third Saturday after weaving through the Islanders zone and ripping a wrist shot past Sorokin 14:10 into the third period.
Pastrnak’s goal and an empty-netter by Hall in the final minute triggered several anti-New York chants and a few rounds of “We want the Cup!”
CANADIENS 3
MAPLE LEAFS 2 (OT)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored at 15:15 of overtime and host Montreal beat Toronto to force Game 7 in the first-round series.
Corey Perry and Tyler Toffoli also scored and Carey Price made 41 saves in front of the first Canadian hockey crowd since the start of the pandemic.
Jason Spezza and T.J. Brodie scored for Toronto, beating Price with under 10 minutes to go in regulation to tie it. Jack Campbell stopped 28 shots.
Game 7 is Monday night in Toronto, with the winner facing Winnipeg. Also an overtime winner in Game 5 in Toronto, the Canadiens are looking to come back from a 3-1 series deficit to win for the third time in franchise history.