Yahoo Sports 'One Of My Better Games': Bruins Superstar Is Dominating Again
BOSTON – When David Pastrnak says he’s feeling good about his game that only bodes well for the Boston Bruins.
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Despite a 5-4 overtime loss to the New York Islanders Sunday night at TD Garden, Pastrnak scored a pair of goals – his 16th and 17th of the season. He also scored two during Saturday’s 6-4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s evident his confidence is increasing, which is important since the Bruins are winless in four consecutive games since the holiday break.
“Today, I felt really good,” he said. “It was one of my better games. I felt good energy-wise. I felt confident. I was making plays, and our line was all around it first two periods and then in the third we scored two goals. It’s crazy how hockey works. Our first two periods as a line we spent almost every shift in the O-zone, but just couldn’t bury one. All of a sudden in the third it broke, and I felt great today.”
Pastrnak, who scored 47 goals last season, hasn’t enjoyed the same offensive spark yet this season, but he’s starting to feel it. He scored back-to-back goals against the Islanders in the third period to tie the game at 4-4, and he nearly ended it with a quality chance in overtime.
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“It’s obviously always nice to score goals,” he said. “You don’t take it for granted in this league, but it would definitely feel better if you end up with the (win). There are mixed emotions, obviously, but I just want to get on a winning streak.”
He had a golden opportunity in OT, but Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin made a solid save as Pastrnak attempted to stuff the puck in the shortside.
“I had so much speed I should’ve just went to the forehand and put the pressure on the goalie to match my speed,” he said. “Looking back, if I put it to the forehand I don’t think he could match that speed I had and see if anything opened up and stay on the strong side. Yeah, I definitely regret that one. I could’ve put the game away.”
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The Bruins haven’t been at their best during this stretch, but even coach Joe Sacco is encouraged by Pastrnak’s recent production.
“Eighty-eight came up big for us,” Sacco said. “It was a good weekend for him with back-to-back multiple-goal games. He wants to produce for the team. I thought he did it really well tonight, especially the way he played his overall game. He was solid and logged a lot of minutes tonight on back-to-back nights. Certainly, whenever you get a guy like him, who is a goal scorer, when they start feeling good about themselves every game, that confidence, it’s a good sign.”
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