Bruins' David Pastrnak can't buy a goal, but he's keeping them out

David Pastrnak could have easily produced a few goals during the Bruins' 2-1 overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday at TD Garden. But, he didn't. His name didn't even appear on the score sheet.

It's been six games since he's scored a goal, but he was creating chance, after chance, after chance against the Canadiens. He was simply snakebitten. It all started on his first shift when he rang his first of four shots (nine total attempts) off the post on a wide open, backdoor chance.

"Pasta could’ve had a hat trick tonight," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "The puck was following him, so on the one hand, because you win, you’re like, well, the puck is following him; he’s playing well. If it hadn’t worked out, you’re like, well, he’s got to bury some of those. It’s that simple. So, it’s the good and the bad, right?

"We’d like to see him finish a few more of those, but when you’re skating and winning puck battles and you do that on a consistent basis, then you become like (Brad Marchand) and you score 30, 35 goals, and that’s what he’s trending towards. I thought he’s done a real good job this whole week of winning more pucks and being around it more. He’s too good a player. If he has it, eventually he is going to get his goals."



As much as he's being paid to score goals, the Bruins need Pastrnak to be efficient at both ends of the ice, especially right now with Patrice Bergeron sidelined with a broken right foot. Pastrnak has been inconsistent at times defensively this season, but the last three games without Bergeron, No. 88 has picked up his two-way game when the team needs it the most. It's impressive, actually, but not surprising the Bruins are 3-0 without their alternate captain.

"I'm learning every game," Pastrnak said. "Usually, good offense comes from good defense, so I need to keep going."

From an offensive standpoint, the dynamic winger has 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points in 63 games this season. He finished 2016-17 with 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points in 75 games. He still has plenty of time this season to reach the 30-goal plateau, but if he doesn't, he believes he's made strides in his overall development. It's not like he sets a certain number of goals he wants to reach each season.

"I don't set it, no," he said. "Every year I want to have more than I had the year before, but that's not always going to happen. I want to create a lot of offense and if I have more assists some years than goals, I won't be mad at all. Obviously, I want to have a better year than the year before and it's not always about the points. I think I'm a way better player than I was last year even though I don't have that many goals yet."

Keyword being "yet."

Pastrnak was all over the ice against the Canadiens. Both he and Bergeron admitted it helped their chemistry when Marchand served his five-game suspension last month. Now, it's he and Pastrnak learning more about each other's game without No. 37.

"Pasta played great," Marchand said. "He was flying. You can tell he was feeling it. Even his attitude before and during the game, you could tell he was feeling it. He could've had a few and he made some really nice plays, but it's going to come. If he continues to play like that he's going to score a lot of goals."

Marchand knows what it feels like when you're playing well but the pucks aren't finding the back of the net. Mentally, it can be tough to manage, especially when your team is down by a goal. It can be emotionally draining when you keep looking at the rafters after missing those quality chances.

"When you're feeling it that way, it'd be nice if they'd go in, but there are games when you feel terrible and you get a couple of points. It all works out in the end. You want to build on it and it helps to get your confidence up."

Pastrnak's not lacking in the confidence category, and he never will with his high-octane personality. At some point, every aspect of his game will mesh and he'll become a consistently dangerous player at both ends of the ice.