BSJ Game Report: Bruins 2, Oilers 1 (OT) - Pastrnak provides heroics in OT

Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 overtime win over the Oilers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES

Pasta the hero in OT: What was primarily a frustrating night at Rogers Place for the Boston Bruins still managed to end on a high note — as David Pastrnak scored at 1:14 in overtime to lift Boston past the Oilers, 2-1, on Wednesday night. With the win, Boston has now won four straight and 10 of its last 11 games. More importantly, the 38-11-12 Bruins also continued to stay ahead of the red-hot Lightning in the race for the top spot in the Atlantic, building themselves for a three-point cushion. 

Pastrnak’s OT winner — a breakaway tally generated off of a fantastic feed from David Krejci — was the final segment in a reel of game film that Bruce Cassidy and Co. might want to burn before heading down to Calgary. While Patrice Bergeron opened the scoring for the visitors at 8:28 in the opening period, Boston failed to land a knockout punch against an Oilers team playing without Connor McDavid for the fifth straight game.

Edmonton only landed two shots on goal against Tuukka Rask in the first 20 minutes of play, but managed to shake off the rust as the contest progressed — with Rask forced to make 18 stops in the following period. 

Edmonton secured the equalizer off of a power-play goal from Sam Gagner at 3:42 in the third period, while Boston’s stagnant power play (0-for-7) prevented the B’s from putting this one away before the final seconds ticked away in regulation. 

But Pastrnak — entering the night just one goal back of Auston Matthews for the league lead — closed out the victory for Boston in short order, skating in alone and tucking the puck past Mike Smith in the extra period for his 43rd tally on the season.

THREE UP



Patrice Bergeron: It looks like that bye week came at the perfect time for the B’s top-line center, as Bergeron has torched opposing defenses for weeks now. With his first-period tally on Wednesday, Bergeron has now lit the lamp five times in the last six games, and is now up to 27 goals through 52 games played. For those keeping track, his career high for tallies in a season is 32 — which he set both in 2015-16 and 2018-19.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1230311402717487107

David Pastrnak: As has been the case for most of this season, Pastrnak helped bail out a Bruins’ offense stuck in the mud due to a sluggish power play and a lack of quality looks during 33:33 of 5v5 ice time. The race for the Rocket Richard Trophy — between Pastrnak, Matthew and Alex Ovechkin (40 goals) is going to be a thing of beauty. 

Tuukka Rask: Despite only landing two shots on goal in the first period, Edmonton poured it on against Rask down the stretch — with Rask facing 27 attempts that landed on net over the next 40 minutes of play. Rask managed to stand tall down the stretch, ultimately stopping 28 shots in the win, including 10 saves against the top-ranked power play in the NHL. 

ONE DOWN

Power play: Boston easily could have put this game away had its power play managed to capitalize against Smith and the Oilers throughout regulation. While Boston did generate 25 shot attempts in its 11:48 of 5v4 play, an 0-for-7 showing on the man advantage is still a very tough look. Boston is currently stuck in an 0-for-11 slump on the power play. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

What else did you think it was going to be? 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1230344887083683841

PARTING THOUGHTS

Nordstrom ultimately got a penalty on this sequence, but good on him, Sean Kuraly and Jeremy Lauzon for coming to the defense of Matt Grzelcyk here. 

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1230339674641707011

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their three-game trek out in Western Canada on Friday night, with the B’s set to take on the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Puck drop is set for 9 p.m.