David Pastrnak serves up the magic in 6-2 win over Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Brad Marchand was standing in the corner of the visitor’s locker room at Gila River Arena when David Pastrnak walked over and stuck a coffee cup near his linemate’s face as though it was a reporter’s microphone.

“What’s it like to play with No. 88?” Pastrnak asked. To which Marchand responded: “Pasta was flying out there, looking pretty and showing off those good looks.”

The atmosphere was a lot more jovial than it has been of late after the Bruins had just erased a two-game losing skid and defeated the Arizona Coyotes 6-2. Boston received contributions throughout the lineup, especially from the team’s fourth line of Tim Schaller, Sean Kuraly and Danton Heinen, but it was Pastrnak’s performance that drew attention.



It’s fitting that the Bruins are heading to Las Vegas to play their first-ever game against the Golden Knights because Pastrnak is a magician on the ice. Forget the fact that he scored his second goal of the season by going to the front of the net and redirecting a Zdeno Chara one-timer past Coyotes goalie Louis Domingue.

Even without the puck on his stick, Pastrnak makes a difference in the offensive zone.

Case in point No. 1: Nearly midway through the first period, Boston’s top line had a sustained forecheck when a 50/50 puck was sitting there for the taking in the left faceoff circle. Pastrnak and two Coyote defenders sprang for the puck. The Bruins’ winger won the foot race, but skated over the puck and towards the net. The defenders, who knew they were beat, thought he took the puck with him and followed.

The puck was right there for Marchand to get off a shot.

“I saw one guy was coming, so I tried to lift his stick up,” Pastrnak explained to BostonSportsJournal.com. “It worked out that there were two guys and Machy got the puck.”

His elusiveness is uncanny. His hockey sense is keen. It translates into production, which equals success. Those are a few reasons why the Bruins signed the 21-year-old forward to a six-year deal worth $40 million last month.

It’s that type of playmaking ability that opens the ice for everyone else. He had his legs and brain working at full tilt on Saturday and the Bruins finished with a much-needed road win.

“Pasta could’ve had an even better night if he was a little more selfish,” said Bruce Cassidy. “No complaints. We need him to be good every night.”

A season ago, Pastrnak recorded 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points in 75 games. It was his third season in the NHL and he made major strides to becoming an elite player. He became stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. His production was a direct result of that. The Bruins allowed him to be creative offensively, as long as it didn’t take away from his play at both ends of the ice.

“He doesn’t look at you when he makes plays,” Marchand said. “He’s always looking in a different direction and the puck ends up on your stick somehow. It’s a lot of fun to watch. He’s so strong on the puck now. You really saw it last year when he came into his own and he’s able to do things out there that a lot of guys wouldn’t even dream of doing. The way he’s maturing as a player is really good and very big for our team. He does something every game that makes you think, ‘Wow. This kid is special.’ He is.”

Case in point No. 2: Pastrnak had control of the puck through the neutral zone and made a tremendous move around Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson just inside the blue line. The nifty move drew an Arizona penalty and Boston capitalized on the PP when Anders Bjork notched his first NHL goal to give the Bruins a 6-2 final.

Pastrnak wasn’t on the ice for the rookie’s tally but he was a direct result of the goal.

“He’s a skilled player, an offensive player. Everybody knows that he will create something offensively either with the puck or without the puck,” Chara said. “We saw in the third he drew a penalty out of a really nice move. A lot of times without the puck, other teams are aware of him. He’s one of our better offensive players so (opponents) have to pay attention to him. When they do that, other things open up for other players that are playing with him.”

The mock interview with Marchand was over and Pastrnak walked away. No. 63 stood with a smile on his face and shaking his head, thinking about his linemates performance.

“He’s awesome,” Marchand said. “No doubt a magician.”

Let's see what else he can pull out of his hat for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.