BSJ Game Report: Bruins 3, Stars 2 -- B's come out on top in battle of conference bests

Everything you need to know from the Bruins' 3-2 win against the Stars, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Pastrnak pushes Bruins past Stars in OT: When all else fails, get the puck to David Pastrnak.

That's exactly what Charlie McAvoy did during overtime in the Bruins' 3-2 win over the Stars Tuesday. After the Bruins killed off a Brad Marchand interference penalty, McAvoy found Pastrnak unaccounted for on the far side and No. 88 worked his magic while off-balance to cap off an exciting matchup between two of the best teams in the NHL.

Taylor Hall and Pavel Zacha netted the first two goals for the Bruins in the first and third periods, while Linus Ullmark picked up a 29-save victory in his first start in net after the break.

The Bruins began the game with purpose as it swarmed the Stars net seemingly the entire opening period. Hall's goal was the result of a spectacular play and pass from Hampus Lindholm midway through the frame.

Roope Hintz took advantage of a loose puck in the slot 2:28 after Hall's strike, tying the game at 1-1. Dallas pushed back toward the end of the period, but it was the Bruins who finished with a 15-6 shot advantage.

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was superb in the first, stealing a couple of golden chances for the B's. Bergeron had the best opportunity of the bunch with less than a minute left, but Oettinger's outstretched left leg kept the score all square through 20 minutes.

The Stars grabbed control in the second period and didn't let go. Jason Robertson snapped a shot through Ullmark's five-hole and all of a sudden Dallas led, 2-1, less than five minutes into the period.

Penalties were a problem for the Bruins in the second as the Stars had three power play opportunities, but the penalty kill remained sturdy, preventing goals each time.

The Bruins regained control in the third period and knotted the score on Zacha's 12th of the season. Brandon Carlo corralled a loose puck in the neutral zone and found Zacha at the left faceoff dot, who zipped it in glove side at 10:12 of the period to make it 2-2.

Neither team could find twine in regulation, forcing the extra five minutes, which paved the way for Pastrnak's clincher.

The victory counted as the Bruins' 40th of the season as well as head coach Jim Montgomery's 100th win of his coaching career.

THUMBS UP

While the B's power play continues to struggle, the penalty kill was perfect in Dallas, going 4-for-4. The most important kill of the night came in overtime as the Stars had a full two minutes to notch the game-winner.

The Stars also had a 5-on-3 chance in the second period when they were ahead 2-1, but the Bruins' PK units proved to be tough to solve.

Ullmark was perhaps the best penalty-killer during that stretch, highlighted by an important stop against Robertson toward the end of the second period.

THUMBS DOWN

The Bruins struggled in the faceoff dot all night long as the Stars won 80 percent of the total draws. Patrice Bergeron had the best night of any B's center, winning 30 percent of his attempts, while David Krejci (11 percent) and Charlie Coyle (14 percent) didn't have much luck.

Meanwhile, Jamie Benn and Luke Glendening each finished with the worst numbers in the dot for Dallas, each winning 66 percent of their faceoffs.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Falling down while at an awkward angle... no problem for Pastrnak.

AROUND THE ATLANTIC

The Senators won a hard-fought game against a desperate Islanders club, 3-2, with a shootout game-winner from Tim Stutzle being the difference.

Ottawa are now winners of six of their last seven games, dating back to Jan. 18.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will wrap up their mini road trip in Nashville on Thursday. The Predators are five points shy of a playoff spot in the Western Conference as of Tuesday night.

Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.